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9 



MRS. L. T. MEADK. 







OUT OF THE FASHION 


BY 


L. t/mEADE 




AUTHOB OP "ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED, ” “ A SWEET GIRL GRADUATE, 
“POLLY, A NEW-FASHIONED GIRL,” “A WORLD OP GIULS,” 
“children of WILTON CHASE,” ETC. 



— ■ ' X 


1 n.’tJ r*. . 

V 

NEW YORK 

CASSELL PUBLISHING COMPANY 

104 & 106 Fourth Avenue 






COPTUTGHT, 1892, BY 
CASSELL PUBLISHING COMPANY. 


All rights reserved. 


THE MERfSHON COMPANY PRESS 
RAHWAY, N. J, 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


CHAPTER I. 

There is an old-fashioned square in a very 
central part of Bayswater, which, for some 
reason, is no longer considered a desirable 
place of residence by the fashionable world. 
It is difficult to account for the unpopularity 
of Rosemary Gardens, for the place combines 
many distinct advantages. Its situation can 
scarcely be surpassed ; it is on high ground ; 
its soil is gravel ; its aspect bright ; it is 
within a few minutes’ walk of Kensington 
Gardens. Omnibuses pass its select and 
peaceful gates, and the Metropolitan Railway 
is within a stone’s throw from its houses. 

The place is as central and convenient as a 
place can be ; it has also another advantage : 
it is quiet. Close to the war and traffic of 


2 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

the great city, in one of tlie houses in Rose- 
mary Gardens you may lie down and sleep 
without being disturbed by a sound. The 
houses themselves are large, well-planned, and 
convenient ; the house-rents also are very 
moderate. Still the place is not poj)ular. 
Many of these palatial houses stand empty ; 
almost all bear marks of seediness and decay. 

No. 80 Rosemary Gardens was, perhaps, 
the sole exception to the universal rule. 
Three or four years before this story opens it 
had been redecorated and lightened. AVhite 
paint was substituted for dark ; windows 
were opened in unexpected corners ; delicate 
pajDers graced the walls; and flowers filled 
the wide, spacious balconies. 

Then a family arrived, and took possession 
of the restored mansion. ' This family con- 
sisted of a father and four girls. The girls 
Avere all young, but not too young, for the 
youngest even had stepped out of her child- 
hood, and, when the family took possession 
of No. 80, was over fourteen years of age. 
The eldest girl Avas tAventy. They Avere 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


3 


pleasant girls to look at, and their names 
were agreeable to say. Margaret was the 
name of the eldest ; Kitty came next ; then 
Betty ; then Sibyl. Boss was the surname 
of the family. The girls were educated 
according to the fashion of their times. 
They were up-to-date girls, without being 
fast. They were learned, without being in 
any sense of the word bluestockings. They 
were all four of them merry, unaffected crea- 
tures, and the house had a gay time when 
they came into it. 

Margai*et ^vas twenty at this time, and she 
was very glad to take the lead, and to give 
her sisters a good time. The girls had been 
motherless since Sibyl was a baby. Since 
then they had been under the care of many 
tutors and guardians. Two of them had 
finished their education in Germany. One 
had studied art in one of the best studios in 
Paris. Sibyl, who was by many considered 
the cleverest of the family, had lived with an 
aunt, and received her education at the near- 
est high school. 


4 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


But uow they all met in London, and 
Margaret found herself the mistress of a 
mansion. 

‘‘You shall all do exactly as you please, 
girls,” said their father. “Only Margaret 
shall be head. That is the only restriction I 
put upon you three younger ones. Margaret 
must housekeep, and in times of perplexity 
hers must be the casting vote.” 

“ Who minds that ? ” said Kitty, her dark 
eyes flashing. “ Who could object to being 
guided by this dear, gentle old Meg of 
ours?” 

The little conversation was taking place at 
the breakfast table ; and Kitty, who was bois- 
terous in her movements, upset a cup and 
saucer, and spilt its contents over the board, 
in her efforts to stretch across to Margaret to 
embrace her. 

Mr. Boss was like his eldest daughter, 
quiet in his ways, and undemonstrative. He 
sighed gently over Kitty, and Margaret also 
sighed, but neither of tliem reproved her : it 
was not their way. 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


The little household, thus brought together, 
passed three or four years of uniuterrupted 
sunshine. The girls did not go exactly into 
society, but they saw many friends both at 
home and abroad. Other gii’ls came to the 
house, and other girls brought their brothers 
with them, and the brothers, as they got 
intimate, their young men friends. So that 
altogether life at the Rosses’ was very cheer- 
ful and very young. 

The house was capable in itself of receiv- 
ing any amount of sunshine. The rooms, 
with their great balconies, and large windows, 
and light decoration, would reflect back light, 
not absorb it. And when music and song 
sounded in the drawing-room, and gay girls 
trooped out on the balconies, and laughing, 
cheerful sounds floated down to the streets 
below, the otlier inhabitants of Rosemary 
Gardens used to stoj:) on their way home to 
their own dismal abodes, and wonder what 
had come to No. 80, and why life was so 
festive there. 

That old story in the Bible of the years of 


6 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

plenty followed by tlie years of famine lias, 
to a certain extent, become typical of life, and 
these four girls, who looked as if no shadow 
could ever touch them, were not to be 
excepted from the universal lot. The 
shadow which was to darken their present 
brightness came on very sI3^^dy, and, strange 
to say, Kitty was the first to notice it. 

“ Margaret,” she said to her sister, one 
evening, do you ever observe anything 
queer about father?” 

The girls were standing on the balcony 
when she spoke. The two younger ones had 
gone to bed, for it was past midnight, and 
they were tired after a long evening devoted 
to the entertainment of many guests. When 
the last visitor had departed, however, 
Margaret had stepped on the balcony to cool 
her hot cheeks, and Kitty had followed 
her. 

Do you notice anything queer about 
father?” asked Kitty, a momentary terror 
filling her bright eyes, as she glanced at her 
sister. 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


1 


No, nothing,” replied Margaret. “ What 
do you mean, Kit ? ” 

I don’t know, Maggie. I expect I am all 
wrong, as you have never observed anything. 
But he does look pale and sighs very often, 
and he does not eat much.” 

“ I have not noticed it,” replied Margaret. 

“ Then it must be my fancy,” answei'ed 
Kitty. 

She leant over the heavy iron rail of the 
balcony, and looked into the gardens in the 
middle of the square. They were common- 
place gardens, with the usual tennis court — a 
somewhat badly-kept one — in their midst. 
But now the moon was beautifying the grass, 
aud casting a strange, magic light over the 
stunted London trees, and Kitt}^, who pos- 
sessed a really artistic soul, sighed for 
pleasure. 

I am sleepy,” she said presently. “ Good- 
night, Meg.” 

Margaret offered her cheek to be kissed, 
and Kitty went into the drawing-room. 
Margaret heard her singing the gay refrain 


8 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


of a song as slie tripjDed across the room. 
Margaret was not romantic, nor bad her 
artistic tendencies been in any way de- 
veloped. She looked into the moonlit gar- 
den, and was not conscious of any sense of 
admiration as she gazed at it. Presently she, 
too, went back into the drawing-room, and, 
closing the heavy window, bolted it across. 

Margaret was a very considerate young 
mistress, and the servants had all, before this, 
gone to bed. She put out the gas, and leav- 
ing the drawing-room took up her chamber 
candlestick to go to her room. 

As she did so Kitty’s words came back to 
her with a painful, queer insistence. 

“ Father looks pale ; he sighs ; he does not 
eat.” 

Folly ! ” muttered Margaret. “ Surely if 
there was anything wrong, my father would 
tell me. I have noticed nothing. Well, I 
shall watch him to-morrow.” 

She went half-way up the stairs to her 
room, when again the memory of the teasing 
words came back to her. And now she saw 


OUT OF THE FASHION, 


9 


a picture of her father rise up quite clear and 
distinct before her. It was a faded picture, 
and gave Margaret a queer, lonely sense of 
something intensely pathetic. 

That little goose of a Kitty ! ” she said. 
“ What has the child done to me with 
her morbid notions ? I positively can’t 
rest until I see into this matter. I must go 
downstairs, and find out if father is still 
up.” 

She leant over the banisters, and saw that 
the light was still burniug in the entrance 
hall. Then she tripped downstairs, and a 
moment later was knocking at her father’s 
study door. 

Mr. Koss bade her enter ; he looked 
astonished when .he saw her. He had been 
walking up and down liis room, and now he 
stopped, and looked at Margaret in a har- 
assed way, as if her presence distressed him. 
This was not at all his usual expression, but 
it fastened the arrow of conviction at once 
into Margaret’s heart. She saw that Kitty 
was right. 


10 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


Her manner was particularly gentle as slit? 
went up to her father. 

“ You lvno^v you are doing very wu^ong,” 
she said. “ You ought not to be up at this 
hour. You ai*e tired ; you are cold — your 
hands feel like ice.” 

‘‘ I am not really tired, Maggie,” said Mr. 
Ross. He had quite recovered his ordinary 
manner now. You cannot expect old folks 
never to wish to be quiet and alone. Yes, 
of course, it is different with you, my dear, 
and glad I am to think it. You can’t have 
too much life, and mirth, and fun. But old 
people don’t want to sleep as much as the 
young do, and in short, my dear Margaret, I 
like to walk up and do^vn my study Avdien 
the house is absolutely quiet. If I give you 
and your sisters full liberty, my dear child, 
it is not too much to ask you to do the same 
for me.” 

‘‘Then you are vexed with me for coming 
down,” said Margaret. 

Kitty would not have said this ; but then 
Margaret was never remarkable for tact. 


OVT OF THE FAmilON. 


11 


‘‘ No, my clear ; I am not vexed,” said Mr. 
Eoss. ‘^You liave never done anything to 
cause me real vexation, my dear Margaret.” 

Here he came over, and, bending down, 
kissed Margaret on her forehead. 

I think you are happy,” he continued ; 
you and your sisters ! You all seem very 
liappy.” 

‘‘ Yes, father ; we are perfectly happy.” 

“ How many years have we been together 
in this house ? ” 

Margaret looked up, surprised at the 
cpiestion. 

We have been here over four years,” she 
said. “ Sibyl was fourteen then — she is eigh- 
teen now.” 

And you are twenty-four, Margaret ? ” 

^Wes.” 

^^You have had four happy years,” said 
Mr. Eoss. ^^That is something — every girl 
can’t say that. Your mother told me she 
never knew perfect happiness until she was 
my wife. But you have all had sunny girl- 
hoods, my dear. And then the future — a 


12 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


woman has many possibilities in the future ! 
Now, Margaret, you have disturbed my 
meditations, and, as I begin to feel sleepy, I 
shall set you an excellent example by going 
to bed.” 


CHAPTEE IL 


This was the beginning of the shadow 
which, by and by, grew dark, as such heavy 
clouds This night and this conversation 

were the beginning of the subtle change 
which overthrew the household, and caused a 
moral earthquake, and the upheaval of all old 
customs. 

But the shadow came on slowly, and the 
great crash did not occur until nearly a year 
after Margaret had intruded upon her father’s 
midnight meditations. 

It was early summer now again, and the 
four girls sat in solemn conclave. The]*e were 
no visitors in the house this day, and the four 
had the big drawing-room to themselves. 

“ I can’t stand it any longer,” said Sibyl, 
who was decidedly the most spoilt member 
of the household. I don’t know what you 
mean to do, Betty, and Kitty, and Mar- 


14 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


garet, but I call it immoral to go on like 
this.” 

Yes, Sib, storm away ! ” said Kitty, 
what’s up, now ? For four years we li\^ed 
in this house, and had no iwvs, and now there 
are three or four a week ! Go on. Sib ; what 
has struck horror to your righteous and most 
moral soul ? ” 

Oh ! I can’t help it,” said Sibyl. You 
are unkind, Kitty. You make fun of 
everything ; but this is no laughing 
matter — it isn’t, really. It’s about the 
baker.” 

Here Sibyl swept across the room, and, 
flinging herself on Margaret’s neck, burst into 
a passion of weeping. 

I have kept it in all day,” she said, but 
I must let it out now, or I shall choke. And, 
oh ! it is so immoral, and it’s so cruel of Kitty 
to laugh.” 

I’m not laughing any longer. Sib,” said 
the repentant Kitty. 

Hush, darling, dry your eyes, and tell us 
what is the matter,” whispered Betty. It 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


15 


can’t be worse than the dressmaker affair of 
yesterday,” she murmured, sotto voce. 

Margaret did not speak at all, but she 
passed her arm in a wonderfully comforting 
way round Sibyl’s slight waist. 

“ Now, what is it ? ” repeated Kitty. Out 
with the grievance, Sibyl — don’t keep us in 
suspense.” 

Sibyl raised her head from Margaret’s 
breast, dashed the thunder drops from her 
eyes, and began emphatically : 

“You don’t suppose I trudged over to the 
Stores to fetch those horrid cakes for noth- 
ing,” she said. “ The children were coming, 
twenty of them. You know how children 
will eat. You know I liad to go — I could 
not help myself.” 

“But our own baker is much nearer 
than the Stores,” interposed Margaret gen- 
tly. 

Sibyl turned, and almost sprang upon her. 

“ That’s it, Meg — that’s the immorality of 
it — and, oh ! it isn’t the poor baker’s fault, 
for he has got ten children, and an ailing 


16 


OUT OF 'lEE FASHION. 


wife. I don’t blame him — he has got to look 
after himself, of course he has.” 

I wondered why the cake I ordered did 
not come,” said Margaret. I ordered a 
specially lagre one, which cook was to frost. 
I wondered to see all those small cakes and 
tarts on the table.” 

I w^ouldn’t tell you until the party was 
over, Meg. You gave me leave to arrange it, 
and I would not have you worried. The fact 
is, Margaret, and Kitty, and Betty, the baker 
refused to make the cake until his bill was 
paid. Poor baker ! And aren’t we an im- 
moral family ? ” 

The other three girls looked at one an- 
other. They uttered no exclamations of 
astonishment, but they exchanged glances 
full of meaning. Sibyl, having deliVered 
herself of her story, walked across the room, 
and hid her burning face against the velvet 
curtain, which cozily draped the window. 

You did bravely. Sib,” said Kitty at last. 

And so you spent your own money on all 
those cakes and tarts ! Poor, generous Sib ! ” 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


11 


There’s my purse — it’s empty ! ” said 
Sibyl. 

She opened it disdainfully, and tossed it 
on the floor. 

Well ! ” said Kitty, in an emphatic voice. 

Nobody echoed her Well ! ” She had a 
brightly-colored face, and now her cheeks be- 
came damask. 

“There’s the butcher, too, and the dress- 
maker,” Betty began, looking at Margaret. 

“ Oh, hush, Betty ! ” said Margaret. 

It was now Kitty’s turn to take up the de- 
fensive. 

“ Why should Betty hush ? ” she said. 
“We have all known this thing for a long 
time in our hearts, and we have been afraid 
to speak of it. Sibyl is quite right; it’s 
positively immoral of us to keep silence any 
longer. Come away from the window, and 
let’s get each of us into our own cozy chair, and 
thresh the matter out. Come, Sib, you know 
you like the softest cushions ; here you are.” 

“There’s no manner of use,” said Margaret. 
“ But, of course, girls, if you wish 


18 OUT OF THE FA8E10N. 

We do wish,” said Betty. It can’t be 
half such a nightmare if we talk it over. 
Kitty is right ; it’s cowardly not to face the 
thing. Now then, Margaret, you are the 
housekeeper. Be prepared for a plain ques- 
tion. Why don’t you pay the bills ? ” 

“ I did, till within a year ago,” answered 
Margai’et. “ Then my father told me they 
were all to be sent to him, and he would 
settle with the tradespeople.” 

Which, of course, he hasn’t done,” inter- 
rupted Sibyl. 

I’m afraid not. Sib.” 

And we have been having no end of 
parties, and such a jolly time ! Why, I’ve 
never had so many new dresses in my life, 
and beauties — no expense spared. It was 
only a month ago father told me to go off to 
Mine. Wild’s, and get the veiy prettiest 
party-dress she could manufacture. I danced 
off with a heart like a feather, and Mme. 
Wild looked me in the face, and said, ^ I have 
written a letter to your good papa. When 
he answers it, you shall have my best atten- 


OUT OF TUE FASHION. 


19 


tion, Miss Ross.’ It was the insolent look 
on Maclaine’s face that first opened iny eyes. 
I came straight liome, and I walked into 
father’s study, and I said, ^Father, Mine. 
Wild, the dressmaker, has written you a 
letter, and she says she. will make my dress 
cvdien you anscver her letter.’ ^ I will reply 
to her to-niglit,’ answered father, in his gentle 
voice, and he looked up at me as if he wns 
awfully tired. I did not say another word, 
and, of course, I went away cpite satisfied. 
But I hadn’t the heart to go back again to 
Mine. Wild. I suppose now^ that father 
never answered the letter, and that she has 
never been ]iaid.” 

No,” said Betty, “ Mme. AVild has never 
been paid, but I don’t care so much about 
her. It is Mrs. Moore I am thinking of. 
She makes all our plain dresses, and comes 
here to do upholstering and all kinds of odd 
jobs. She came here this morning, Margaret, 
and she cried; yes, she did. AFe owe her 
twelve pounds, and some of the money we 
owe is for out-of-pocket expenses, and she is 


20 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

a widow witli four little cliildren. I told 
lier she should have lier money to-morrow ; 
and slie shall, if I sell all my rings to pay 
her;’ 

“ AVhy don’t you speak, Maggie ? ” said 
Kitty. Why do you sit there, looking so 
Avhite and still, with your hands clasped 
too^ether ? What is the matter ? Has father 
given you no money at all during the past 
year ? ” 

“ A little,” said Margaret slowly. The 
servants’ wages are not greatly overdue ; that 
is one thing.” 

“ What does this mean, Maggie ? How is 
this to end ? ” said Sibyl. I have some 
sense of honor left. Have you ? ” 

“ I hope so,” said Margaret, “ only I am 
divided. Oh ! you don’t understand, any of 
you. My father — all these are reproaches 
heaped on my father ! Oh ! you can none of 
you understand ! ” 

Margaret was so reserved that her few 
words fell now Avith the force of lead on the 
three girls. They did not speak for a 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


21 


moment ; tlieii Kitty once more came to the 
front. 

“ We simply can’t go on like this, Maggie. 
If you are afraid to speak to father, I will. 
He inust give us money to pay these trades- 
]>eople, or — ” Her lips tui*ned white, and her 
eyes misty ; she ^vas looking into a queer 
shady country of perplexity and ruin, and 
the glimpse frightened her. 

Margaret rose suddenly from her chair. 

Something must be done ! ” she said. 
“ I have put off the evil day as long as I 
could, but we have got to face it. I will 
speak to my father to-night.” 

She left the room. The three other girls 
looked at one another, and Kitty slowly 
shook her head. 

“ It’s going to be awfully bad ! ” she said. 

Maggie wouldn’t look like that, nor speak 
in that dreadfully solemn way if the very, 
veiy worst wasn’t to be expected.” 

“ Well,” said Sibyl, “ after to-day, and my 
experience with the baker, joined to my ex- 
perience a month ago with regard to Mme. 


22 OUT OF TEE FASUIOFr. 

Wild, I declare stoutly that I wish I was the 
daughter of a day laborer, for I don’t believe 
he would be allowed to go in debt. There, 
get away, you horrid, fat, luxurious footstool. 
I hate you, for I don’t believe you were paid 
for ! ” 

Kitty,” said Betty, how much do you 
think my turquoise-and-pearl ring would 
fetch ? And who will buy it from me ? I 
can’t really take it to a pavm-shop.” 

Sibyl stared at her two sisters. Their con- 
versation about the ring was not immediately 
interesting. She dragged a little wicker chair 
into the balcony and went out. She seated 
herself in this, and, taking a book of poems, 
pretended to bury herself in its contents. 
She read on steadily, although, of course, she 
was not taking in a single word. Misfortune 
and pain were new things in Sibyl’s life, and 
she was holding them at bay with all the 
strength of her youth. 

Each of the sisters had high spirits, but 
Sibyl’s were perhaps the highest and the 
proudest. They were all nice-looking girls, 


OUT OF THE FASIllOlT. 


23 


but Sibyl bad the most distingiiisbed face, 
and tbe most independent bearing. 

“ It’s immoral ! ” sbe kept on repeating, 
under ber breatb. “We ought to be living 
on bread and cbeese. Oli ! I do wish I was 
tbe daughter of a day laborer I ” 


CHAPTEE III. 


Mr. Koss was in tlie habit of coming home 
late. Margaret, therefore, as she sat in his 
study, and listened for the sound of his latch- 
key in the hall-door, was not surprised Avhen 
eleven struck in a silveiy chime from a car- 
riage-clock on the mantelpiece. Twelve 
o’clock sounded by and by, and the young 
watcher, lying back in the depths of a great 
armchair, gave no sign or start of impatience. 
The fact was she was dreading the interview 
which lay befoi'e hei’, and every moment of 
delay was a relief. 

Margaret Eoss had a stronger face than her 
other sisters ; she was the only one of her 
family who was decidedly dark. Her eyes 
were large, pathetic, and beautifid ; otherwise 
her face was plain. She had been always a 
grave sort of girl, intensely reserved, and cold 
to strangers. Those who knew her fairly well, 
24 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 25 

however, found many points to like. She 
was so reliable, so honest, so sure to do her 
very best about everything. Those who knew 
her well thought there was no one in the 
world like Maggie, but then, very few knew 
her well, for it was not in her nature to let 
many people get a glimpse into her heart. 

In the old days, when her sisters were at 
school, Mai’garet had always spent her holi- 
days with her father ; they had a great many 
points in common, altliough in some respects 
their characters were opposite as tlie poles. 
During these holidays they became the closest 
of friends, and Margaret cpiickly learned to 
give her father the very first place in her 
heart. He was there enthroned. Few more 
sacred places could be found than the heart 
of this good, brave girl. She could not bear 
to see any faults in her idol. For a whole 
year she had lived down her fears, refusing 
to allow the black, dreadful thing which 
was pursuing her to look her full in the 
face. 

Honor on one hand — my father on the 


^6 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

other,” she kept repeating now. Her lips 
trembled ; her feet and hands were cold. 

The little clock on the mantelpiece 
sounded one, and now at last the latchkey 
was heard in the door. Maggie started to 
her feet, and turned on the gas. She was in 
white, and her dark hair was laiffled by her 
long vigil. She had never looked more girl- 
ish, and more nearly pretty than when she 
stepped into the hall to meet her father. 

He started when he saw her. 

‘‘My dear child, what is wrong?” he said. 

“ I thought I would sit up to have a little 
talk with you, father,” she said. 

Mr. Ross put his arm round her neck, and 
kissed her affectionately. 

“You look wonderfully young to-night, 
Maggie,” he said in a pleasant voice. 

She did not make any reply, but, taking 
his hand, led him into the study. 

It looked cozy and bright, and Margaret 
had added to its attractions by placing a 
tempting tray of supper on a side table. 

“ What good angel has told you to do that, 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


27 


Margaret?” said Mr. Ross. For tlie first 
time an anxious expression seemed to come 
into liis face. He looked at tlie food as if lie 
were really famishing. 

I thought you would be hungry, father. 
Shall I cut you some sandwiches ? ” 

‘^As many as you like, my dear. The 
fact is, I had no time to eat dinner in town 
this evening. I had some very pressing calls, 
and was too harassed to eat. Nothing to 
trouble you, Maggie, only you may cut me a 
good lot of sandwiches. By the way, did 
anyone call to see me to-day ? ” 

I believe a good many people. I wanted 
to speak to you about them — and — other 
things.” 

Ah, just so, my dear.” 

Mr. Ross opened his private secretary, 
and busied himself opening and shutting 
drawers. 

“After all, I am glad you are up, Margaret. 
Yes, I’ll take a cup of coffee. Thank you, 
my love. It is nice to have a kind daughter 
to attend on one.” 


28 


OUT OF THE FASUION, 


He received the cup from her trembling 
fingers, drained it off, and helped himself 
instantly to another. 

“ I am better now,” he said. That is the 
good of being a small eater, Margaret. I get 
exhausted, and a little refreshment instantly 
restores me. Now I am fit for anything. 
Where are my messages, and letters, and 
telegrams, dear ? I will first glance through 
them, and go to bed.” 

Margaret pointed to a salver on the center 
table. 

“ All those came to-day,” she said. That 
telegram arrived between eight and nine this 
evening.” 

Mr. Koss tore open the yellow envelope. 
Not a muscle of his face changed as he read. 
He crushed up the little missive after he had 
perused it, looked instinctively at the empty 
grate, but, seeing no fire there, thrust it into 
his pocket. 

You’d better go to bed, Margaret,” he 
said, as he deliberately opened a letter. 

But I’ve sat up on purpose to speak to 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


29 


you, father. Can you grant me just five 
minutes ? I don’t think I shall keep you 
any longer. May I speak to you, father?” 

Mr. Ross glanced at his watch, quickly 
smothered an impatient sigh, and turned 
round to face his daughter. 

“ If you must, you must, Margaret,” he 
said. “ But is it so very important ? AVe 
have already begun the day, and I am tired, 
my love.” 

Oh, I won’t keep you long,” said 
Margaret. And I — I would not hurt, 
you. You are above all others to me — all 
others. Father, it’s just that we can’t go 
on any longer unless you give us some 
money.” 

Mr. Ross had looked almost terrified at the 
beginning of Margaret’s speech, but toward 
the end his brow cleared. 

My dear child,” he said, going up to 
Maggie, and putting his hand on her shoul- 
der, so much emotion and for so little ? 
Surely my dear, if you wanted money you 
had but to ask for it ? ” 


30 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

I did,” slie began, but be interrupted her. 

You are fretting about the tradespeople,” 
he said. own that I have been tempo- 
rarily embarrassed, and hard up, but they 
shall receive checks to-morrow. If you wish 
it, I will write them out now.” 

“Oh, no, father, not while you are so 
tired.” 

Mr. Ross smiled slowly. 

“ Well, I think you might let me off 
until the morning,” he said. “ I don’t break 
my word ; and I promise to send out 
checks then. Have I a list of our ci’editors, 
Margaret ? ” 

“ Yes, in this envelope.” 

“Leave it on my table. I may get up 
early to-morrow morning to attend to the 
matter. And now for your own immediate 
wants. What do you say to this ? ” 

He pulled a leather case out of his breast- 
pocket, and opening it, slowly counted into 
Margaret’s hand ten crisp £10 Bank of 
England notes. 

“ Oh, father, if you are going to pay the 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 31 

bills, I really don’t want all this. You have 
given me one hundred pounds.” 

Keep it, child. Did I not say we were 
going to begin on a new system ? No debts, 
i*eady money paid down for everything. 
Your hundred pounds won’t last long if you 
dress as I like to see you. And now, good- 
night, Margaret, and never again, my love, 
get into a tragic state of mind for the lack 
of money. As long as I live I hope I may 
keep you well supplied. Good-night Maggie, 
dear.” 

Mr. Koss pressed a prolonged kiss on his 
daughters brow. An impulse made her 
throw one arm round his neck and return his 
embrace almost as fervently as Kitty would 
have done. 

“ Do go to bed soon, father, dear,” she said. 
And then she went slowly up to her ovm 


room. 


CHAPTER IV. 


The next morning, when Margaret came 
downstairs, the footman handed her a thick 
sealed packet. 

Mr. Ross must have gone out very early 
this morning, miss,” he said, for when cook 
came down she found the hall door on the 
latch ; and he hasn’t been near his room, 
Louisa says. I found this, too, directed to 
you. Miss Ross, on my master’s table.” 

Margaret felt that this man was staring 
into her face with undisguised curiosity. 
She drew herself up, took the packet, and 
answered coldly : 

I expected Mr. Ross to be absent this 
morning. Have breakfast served at once.” 

The man withdrew, and Margaret hated 
herself for having told an untruth. She 
certainly had not expected her father to be 
away. His manner last night had soothed 
32 


out OF THE FASHION. 33 

her, and the hundred pounds in her pocket 
had given her a pleasant sense of security. 
She slept well, and awoke in almost good 
spirits. If her father had been going 
through a temporary embarrassment and it 
was over, there was no reason why they 
should not all be as happy as ever again. 
She thought how pleased Betty would be 
when she found she need not part with her 
turquoise and pearl ring, and how unneces- 
sary it would be for Sibyl, the baby, the pet, 
and the rebel of the family, to speak of them 
any longer as immoral. 

But when Margaret went downstairs, and 
encountered the eager, curious expression on 
her servants’ faces, she felt her heart sinking 
again, and resolved to say nothing about the 
hundred pounds until she had opened the 
letter which her father had left for her. 

It was a lovely morning, and the breakfast 
room at No. 80 was as sunshiny and cheerful 
as a room could be. Window-boxes filled 
the wide window-ledges, and the perfume of 
mignonette, sweet pea, and monthly roses, 


34 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

floated in from tlie open windows, and 
greeted tlie girls as they sat down to their 
breakfast. 

They all looked bright, and young, and 
cheerful, as they gathered round the table, 
and the servants certainly could detect no 
shadow of a cloud on any of their faces. 
Sibyl seemed in even wilder spirits than 
usual. She said she had got a scheme in her 
head, and she wanted to consult Maggie and 
the others. 

“I thought it all out last night,” said 
Sibyl. I lay awake until two o’clock, and 
then it was formed to perfection. After that 
I dropped asleep. It is a lovely scheme, and 
since I thought of it I don’t want to be a 
day-laborer’s daughter, for this will be much 
more interesting. Shall we all come up to 
the drawing-room, Maggie, and shall I tell 
you the lovely thing I have thought of ? ” 

I’ll come to the drawing-room after I have 
attended to the housekeeping,” said Margaret. 

Oh, the housekeeping ! I don’t think we 
ought to have any dinner, I really don’t ! ” 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


35 


“Hush, my dear, the servants may hear 
you!” 

“ Well, Maggie, what if they do? Let us 
be honest, whatever happens, say I.” 

“ Oh, don’t tease,” said Kitty, putting her 
arms around Sibyl’s waist. “ Do let poor old 
Meg have .her morning in peace. She’ll come 
to us when she can. Now, you know about 
Betty’s ring ? She wants to consult you as 
well as me. Come away to her room, and let’s 
have a consultation.” 

“Don’t do anything about the ring without 
telling me first,” called Margaret after the 
others. 

They stared at her in some astonishment, 
but made no reply. They went slowly up to 
the drawing-room, and, seating themselves in 
a heap together on an ottoman, began to ex- 
amine the contents of Betty’s jewel-case. 
They were intently discussing the merits of 
different rings, when a quick step was heard 
on the stairs, and Maggie, with her face all 
aglow, and her eyes full of tears, rushed into 
their midst. 


36 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


Oh, girls, girls, it’s all right ! ” she 
exclaimed. It’s all right ! Look at 
these ! ” 

And she tumbled a perfect sheaf of checks 
into Kitty’s lap. 

Betty snatched one up, and began to read 
it out aloud. 

“ ‘ Pay Mr. John Hogg eighty-four pounds 
seventeen and fourpence, sterling.’ Why, 
Margaret, that’s the butcher ! Hurrah ! 
hurrah ! hurrah ! ” she screamed. 

Oh, girls, where are my rings ? Don’t let 
my darling rings get crushed under your feet. 
I need not part with them now, and I value 
them so much.” 

“ Is there any check for Mrs. Moore in 
this great pile, Maggie ? ” 

‘Wes, for every one,” replied Margaret. “I 
don’t believe when these are paid that we 
shall owe a farthing in the wide world.” 

“ Heavenly ! ” replied Sibyl. “ I can’t real- 
ize it ! I positively can’t. Don’t speak to 
me, any of you, girls. Let me lie back with 
my eyes closed, and try to comprehend the 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 3*7 

thing. We don’t owe a penny in the wide 
world ! Can such bliss be ours ? ” 

“ And here is dear father’s note,” continued 
Margaret. He says I’m to send out all these 
checks directly. He is obliged to go away 
for a couple of days on business, but he will 
be back by Saturday at the latest. He sends 
his love to you all, girls.” 

Margaret half held out the note, but the 
other three were not particularly eager to 
read it. Betty and Kitty were tumbling over 
the checks, and reading the amounts to one 
another. Sibyl lay back with her eyes shut, 
and a happy, rested expression on her face. 
Margaret put the note into her pocket. 

‘‘I have another joyful surprise for you,” 
she said. What do you say to all these ? ” 
And she pulled the banknotes out of her 
purse. Even Sibyl now darted up from her 
reclining position, and came forward. 

Ten ten-pound notes ! ” she repeated. 
“ All our debts paid, and ten ten-pound notes 
to the good ! Maggie, did the genie of the 
ring visit you last night ? ” 


38 


our OF THE FASHION. 


Father was the genie,” replied Margaret. 
“ He gave me this money, and he said he 
would write checks to meet all the bills. 
These are the checks. I believe I was a 
coward, girls, not to speak to my father long 
ago about these difficulties.” 

‘‘ But you did, Maggie ; scores of times.” 

He says not. I could not have explained 
myself clearly.” 

“ And I went to him,” interrupted Sibyl 
hotly, “ and I spoke out plainly enough, you 
may be sure. And he made me a promise, 
and he ” 

Hush ! ” interrupted Margaret. Her 
face had grown pale and stern. She 
clenched her hand vehemently over her 
father’s letter. 

Sibyl, looked up, startled. Margaret’s 
anger was only like a flash. It melted into 
sweet sunshine. 

“ I do feel happy,” she said. “ And I can- 
not bear a word against my father just 
now. He has been embarrassed, but it is 
over; it is all right now. I feel as if I 


our OF THE FASHION. 39 

could go down on my knees and thank 
God.” 

Darling Meg ! ” said Kitty. 

She went up to her elder sister and 
crushed the hand, which still held Mr. Ross’s 
letter, in an almost painful squeeze. 

Can’t we celebrate this ev^ent ? ” said 
Sibyl, “after you have consigned all those 
checks to the care of the post ? Can’t we 
just go off somewhere, and have a real jolly 
day ? To Richmond, or somewhere ? I don’t 
believe I can stay indoors after this. I had 
a plan, but it has vanished. It is not 
wanted — let it go ! Oh ! I tread on air, 
and I must breathe air. I simply must go 
out!” 

“ It will take me an hour,” said Margaret, 
“ to write letters to accompany these checks. 
After that we can go anywhere. I leave the 
choice to you, girls.” 

She went out of the drawing-room, closing 
the door after her. Betty and Kitty began 
to put the rings back into the jewel case. 
Sibyl rushed to the piano, opened it, and 


40 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


played with intense gayety and spirit two or 
three of the lightest airs then in vogue. She 
was a musical girl, but even the power of the 
music could not hold her just then. As she 
said, she wanted air. She must breathe it 
fully, or her wild happiness would half -kill 
her. She went to her favorite seat on the 
balcony, and, leaning over the railing, looked 
down into the square garden. There were 
gates to E-osemar}^ Gardens, and from where 
Sibyl stood she had a good view of the gates. 
At this hour of the morning, carts, carriages, 
equipages, of all kinds were coming and 
going. The cries of the vegetable-mongers 
and the fruit-sellers in the street beyond were 
borne to the young girl’s ears. The sun 
shone over everything; the day was cloud- 
less, and the freshness of spring still lingered 
in the June air. 

A young man walked rapidly through the 
gates, and came in the direction of No. 80 . 
He was tall, with broad shoulders. He had 
a cane in his hand, and a rose in his button- 
hole. The moment she saw him Sibyl 


OUT OF Tim FASHION. 41 

sprang from lier post of observation, and, 
sinking down on a low garden cliair, pre- 
tended to turn the leaves of a book. 

The young man had seen the flash of her 
white draperies, however. He hurried his 
footsteps, came under the balcony, and stood 
still. 

Sibyl did not move, nor raise her eyes. 
She looked like a maiden spellbound by 
what she was reading, but she did not turn a 
page. The young man remained quite still, 
then he began, in a very low, sweet sort of 
way to whistle that most seductive of all airs, 
Garry Owen.” 

He whistled right through the air once, 
and was beginning it a second time when 
bang went Sibyl’s book on the floor, and her 
head popped over the balcony. 

might have known that was you, Mark ! 
What a hideously vulgar thing you are 
whistling ! How do you do ? ” 

“ I do very well, thank you. Is it too early 
to pay a call at No. 80 ? ” 

“Yes, it would not be correct.” 


42 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

“There’s some nice shade in the Gardens 
now, and nobody there.” 

“ Go and take a stroll in the shade, and 
when you’re tired whistle ‘ Garry Owen ’ once 
again. Good-by.” 

“ But, Sibyl- ” 

“ Yes ; I really can’t shout to yon any more 
from the balcony. These are not the days 
of ” 

She was absolutely going to say Romeo 
and Juliet, but blushed a rosy red in- 
stead. 

“ These are not the days of Shakespeare,” 
responded the young man gravely, “ so, as I 
really want to say something, had I not better 
come in ? ” 

“ How tiresome you are, Mark ; and un- 
reasonable, and provoking ! Well, if you 
must come in, you must. I’ll run down and 
let you in myself.” 

She rushed across the drawing-room, knock- 
ing doAvn a small table in her flight. 

“ What is the matter ? ” exclaimed Kitty. 
“ Where are you going. Sib ? ” 


CUT OF THE FASHION. 


43 


“Oh, it’s only that stupid Mark Danby. 
He will bother me to speak to him.” 

She slammed the door noisily after her. 

“ Stupid, indeed ! ” echoed Kitty, looking at 
Betty. 

Betty rose, stretched herself slightly, and 
yawned. 

“ Never mind,” she said. “ I am sure Mr. 
Danby knows his own affairs, and Sib won’t 
be guided by anyone.” 

“ I don’t want to interfere,” retorted Kitty. 
“ Mark Danby is, without exception ” 

Betty held up her finger. 

“ Hush ! ” she said, “ they are coming ” 

and the next moment the pair entered the 
room, Sibyl talking high, with a pretty pre- 
tense of anger. 

“ Don’t you think Sibyl is very unkind to re- 
fuse me, Kitty ? ” said Danby. “ She informs 
me you are all bound for Richmond, and 
declares I am on no account to accompany 
you. You’ll let me come, won’t you, Kitty ? ” 

“ You can come if you please,” answered 
Kitty. “ That is, if Margaret says yes.” 


44 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

“ Where is Margaret ? ” 

In the library, writing letters.” 

“ I’ll find her and get permission at 
once.” 

“ No, don’t ; she’s frightfully busy.” 

^‘I’ll just get permission and come back 
again.” 

He left the room without waiting for an- 
other word. 

Sibyl buried her head in a great bunch of 
lilies of the valley, and laughed a low, silent 
laugh into their bells. 

What a day it was ! How different from 
yesterday, with its shadows and its distress ! 
Yesterday Sibyl felt stern and virtuous ; the 
path was of thorns, but she would tread on 
them, and not wince when they pierced 
her. To-day the path was of roses, and she 
felt that she was part of an idyl, and that 
Tennyson ought to write about her and 
Mark. 

Margaret’s letters were written and posted, 
and soon after a merry party of five went 
down to Richmond. They had a boat and 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 45 

went on the river, and afterward dined in a 
private room in the “ Star and Garter.” A 
feeling of rest was over all four girls. Dis- 
grace had nearly touched them, but it had 
gone away again. Danby and Sibyl laughed 
and quizzed one another unmercifully. The 
other three made plans together. The old 
life was to be resumed, and now it was to be 
truly a perfect life, for no debts could be 
contracted. 

Three of the girls talked of money, for the 
want of money had been their sore sorrow of 
yesterday. But Sibyl, who had perhaps, felt 
that sorrow the most keenly the day before, 
had soared high above the region of money 
now. She laughed, and jested, and avoided 
personal topics, but all the time her heart 
was singing the sweetest of all songs, and her 
eyes looked like dark violets. 

The girls came home in the dusk of the 
evening, and Danby bade them good-by 
under the shade of the porch at No. 80. 

^^Idl see you to-morrow,” he whispered to 
Sibyl. 


46 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


She turned her head away. He took her 
silence for consent, and ran off happy. 

The girls went into the house. A plain 
man, dressed veiy plainly, was standing in 
the hall. 

Can I speak to you in private, ma’am ? ” 
he said to Margaret. 


CHAPTER V. 


“I WILL see you in here,” said Margaret, 
in a cold voice. 

She opened the door of a small room on 
the ground floor, which she used as a sort of 
private study. It was a dull little room, and 
was dark now, for the servants had not 
thought of lighting the gas. 

^^Had you not better go into father’s 
study, Maggie ? ” exclaimed Sibyl. ‘‘ This 
room is not lighted.” 

No, I will come here,” replied Margaret. 

I can soon turn the gas on.” 

She found a wax taper, held it to one of 
the jets in the hall, and soon the little room 
was fllled with an ugly, hot light. 

Margaret called the plain man in, and the 
door was closed behind them. The three 
other girls went up to the drawing-room. 
Here it was deliciously fresh and cool, for 
47 


48 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


the windows were wide open, the gas burnt 
low, and the softened light from one or two 
shaded lamps gave a refined appearance. 
There were fresh fiowers, too, in baskets 
and vases, and their perfume added to the 
pleasant, luxurious feeling of the drawing- 
room. 

How delicious this old room is ! ” said 
Betty. ‘‘I do think ours is the prettiest 
drawing-room in London. Isn’t tlie effect 
out of these windows quite country-like, the 
moon glinting through the trees in the 
Square garden, and that little rustle of the 
wind among the leaves ! ” 

“I vote we have supper in the drawing- 
room,” said Kitty. I’ll ring the bell, and 
ask Peters to bring up a tray with some fruit 
and milk.” 

She did so ; the man appeared. She gave 
her order, and he closed the door respectfully 
behind him. 

How nice to feel that Peters has been 
paid all his wages in full,” said Betty. I can 
order him about now : I couldn’t yesterday.” 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


49 


Sibyl went ont on the balcony. She 
wanted to look at the moon in the Square 
garden; she wanted to be alone. She felt 
quite sure that something very nice was 
going to happen — something that would 
change all the world for her, something that 
would take all the commonplace out of life, 
that would put the ideal in. 

Sybil was delighted to feel that she was 
going henceforth to live the ideal life. 

What a change from yesterday ! ” she 
murmured ; and half unconsciously, half out 
of sympathy with somebody, she whistled a 
bar of Garry Owen.” 

Just then the hall door was banged rather 
noisily, and the man in plain clothes walked 
down the steps, and up the road toward the 
gates of Eosemary Gardens. 

“ What an ugly man ! ” thought Sibyl. 

AVhat a detestable man ! He makes me 
shiver. I do think the night Has turned sud- 
denly cold.” 

She came in and began to close the win- 
dows. 


50 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

“ Wliat are you doing ? ” exclaimed her 
sisters. 

It has turned cold,” said Sib3d. “ Don’t 
you notice it ? ” 

Kitty laughed. 

Cold ! you must be cold, child ! ” she said. 
^^The evening is grilling. Betty and I are 
simply melted. Ah ! here comes supper and 
something to drink. That’s good, and better 
still, here’s Maggie. Maggie, what did that 
queer man want ? ” 

“ I’ll tell you after supper,” replied Mar- 
garet. 

The servant, having placed the tray on a 
small table, withdrew, and Margaret began 
to help her sisters to plates of strawberries 
and cream. She was busy, moving deftly 
about, and her silence was unnoticed. She 
did not eat any fruit herself. This was 
also unnoticed, for happiness makes people 
queerly selfish now and then, and the other 
three felt intensely happy while they ate 
their frugal supper of fruit and milk. 

When the meal was over Sibyl stood up. 


OUT OF TBE FASHtOF. 51 

stretched herself, yawned, and turned to the 
others. 

Tin sleepy,” she said. “ I shall go to 
bed. Good-night, everybody.” 

Come here fii*st. Sib,” said Margaret. 
There was something a little strained in 
Margaret’s tone, but still none of the others 
noticed it. Sibyl went lightly up to her. 

• Did I hear you say, Sibyl, that Mark 
might call here to-morrow ? ” 

Sibyl blushed all over her face. 

He said he would come,” she answered. 
Then she added, half pettishly — ^or she did 
not half like the consciousness that three pairs 
of eyes were fixed on her — Not that I gave 
him leave — he does it on his own responsi- 
bility.” 

But you don’t forbid him to come ? ” 

Maggie, of course not.” 

You know what he is coming for ? ” 

“ How can I possibly tell ? I’m dread- 
fully sleepy ; do let me go to bed.” 

Margaret put her arm round her slim 
young sister’s waist. It seemed to Sibyl — 


62 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


blit this may have been fancy — that she leant 
against her as if she suddenly needed sup- 
port. Her voice, however, had not a trace 
of apparent emotion in it. 

Don’t go to bed yet, dear,” she said ; “ I 
have something to say.” 

Sibyl dropped into a low chair, crossed her 
hands on her lap, and glanced with the dawn- 
ing of flight in her eyes at Kitty and Betty. 
They were also sitting, but Margaret stood. 

I have something to say,” she began. 
She seemed to find the next words difficult. 
Her lips were dry ; it was a distinct effort to 
get out any further speech. 

I thought I ought to say it before we 
went to bed,” she began again. We have 
had a happy day — it is over, we shan’t have 
any more.” 

“ Margaret ! ” Three voices uttered the 
name in different accents of distress. 

“ We are dishonored,” said Margaret. 
Then she looked out of the window. Her 
lips were trembling, her brows slightly knit. 
She was on the verge of breaking down. 


OUT OP THE FASmoP. 53 

She did not. In half a moment she re- 
covered herself. 

“ Girls,” she said suddenly, “ I won’t keep 
the truth from you any longer. I cannot, I 
dare not. Once I thought I’d let you all 
have happy dreams to-night, but delay would 
only be cruel. Oh ! my darlings, how can I 
take the brightness from you ? O Sib, my 
dear, my sweet, how can I take the joy from 
your life ? And yet you ought to know the 
truth.” 

Sibyl sat in a speechless maze, but Kitty 
came up to Margaret and took her hands. 

Of course, we ought to know the truth, 
dear,” she said. Don’t tremble, Maggie ; 
whatever is wrong, it is not your fault, and 
it is far better to know the truth at once.” 

The truth is this,” said Margaret. Our 
father has — has — disgraced us and himself.” 

Sibyl sprang to her feet. Her face turned 
crimson, words rose to her lips. She came 
close to Margaret, and was beginning to pour 
out a torrent of indignant questions when 
Kitty interrupted her. 


54 OXIT OF THE FASHION. 

“Don’t,” slie said. “You see Maggie lias 
only begun to speak ; let lier go on. Don’t 
interrupt. Who cares what you think at this 
moment ! Now then, Maggie, dear, you’ll 
be better after you have told us everything.” 

“ I’ll never be better,” answ^ered Margaret. 
“ I never can be better nor well again. This 
is the truth, girls. Our father has absconded. 
He has taken money, and he has disappeared. 
That man in plain clothes is a detective. He 
has asked me questions — many questions. 
Pie says he will find our father, and if he 
finds him he will be ” 

“Don’t,” said Sibyl. “Don’t say it. I 
know what you mean, only don’t say it.” 

“I don’t want to,” said Margaret in a 
dreary voice. “ Perhaps our father will not 
be found. That is the best thing we can 
hope for ; he is clever, and it is possible he 
has got away safely.” 

“I don’t understand,” said Betty. “It is 
something very awful, but I don’t take it in. 
What money could father take ? I thought 
the business was his own.” 


OUT OF TIIF FASHION. 55 

^^Yes,” replied Margaret, but there were 
partners — and — and other people’s money 
was involved. Anyhow he has gone, and 
taken a large sum with him.” 

“ JVIaggie ! ” suddenly exclaimed Sibyl, her 
voice rising to a piercing cry, what about 
the checks that were sent out this morning ? 
Was he paying all those awful debts with 
the money he had stolen ? ” 

I don’t know,” replied Margaret. 

Are those ten £10 notes stolen money?” 
I don’t know,” responded Margaret again. 

“ Maggie, have you nothing to say ? ” 

“What can I have to say? What can 
anyone have to say who has just been 
stunned ? I am stunned, and I have nothing 
to say.” 

Margaret had stood all the time she was 
speaking. Now she turned suddenly and 
walked out of the room. The other gii*ls 
did not attempt to detain her ; indeed, her 
absence gave them a certain sense of relief. 
They could at least huddle together, and 
discuss the catastrophe which was crushing 


56 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


tliem. They knew that it affected Margaret 
more painfully than anyone else, but all their 
hopes were equally shattered; they looked 
at one another in affright. 

To have had a long, lingering sense of 
depression,” said Betty at last, “ and then to 
have had it lifted for t^^ elve short, beautiful 
hours, and now this crushing blow ! Well, I 
must confess that I cannot comprehend it.” 

It was midnight when the girls went to 
bed. They crept upstaii’s softly, for they did 
not want the servants to hear them. As 
they passed Margaret’s door, they saw a light 
streaming out. 

“ Poor Maggie ! ” they said one to the 
other. But tliey were all too unhappy about 
themselves just then to volunteer to go in 
and comfort her. 


CHAPTER VI. 


The story of a ruined house and home is 
generally a nine days’ wonder. If the catas- 
trophe is anything on a large scale, the papers 
take it up, and the world speaks, and wags 
its censorious old head. There is gossip and 
talk, commiseration, contempt, scorn, and, in 
the end, forgetfulness. The world I'ushes 
away to revel in a greater scandal; friends 
return to their own interests ; the thing that 
seemed so mighty to the victims ceases to 
excite comment. Its brief day is over; it 
sinks into oblivion. 

This was the case with that disgraceful 
crash which brought to the ground an old 
and much-respected firm, which ruined some 
small tradespeople, and some widows, and 
simple country folk, and which absolutely 
destroyed the happy home in Rosemary 
Gardens. 


57 


OtTT OF THE FASHION. 

This story is not about the crash, nor its 
victims, but about four girls who, in conse- 
quence of it, had to turn round and face 
the world, and prove the metal they were 
made of. 

That happy June day at Richmond was 
followed by an awful fortnight of suspense. 
Mr. Ross was not the only partner who had 
vanished, to all appearance, from the face of 
the earth. Three men had fled, taking 
money with them. If they were captured 
the excitement and disgrace and exposure 
would be all the greater. 

They w^ere not captured. Strange as it 
may seem in these days of detectives and 
telegrams and civilized espionage., they 
managed to escape, and at the end of a fort- 
night the unhappy girls began to entertain a 
scanty hope that their father might never be 
found. It was poor consolation at the best, 
but things were so low with them just then 
that they clung even to the uttermost shreds 
of hope. 

One day the post brought a letter for Mar- 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


59 


garet. She opened it, read its contents, and 
handed it to her sisters. 

“ It is from Uncle David,” she said. He 
writes that he will call here to-day at twelve 
o’clock. He wishes to see us all together. 
Yon had better not go out, Sibyl.” 

As if I wanted to ! ” said Sibyl. 

She spoke in a pettish tone, and would not 
raise her eyes to meet her sister’s. 

Poor child ? ” thought Margaret. “ It 
falls more heavily on her than on any of us — 
that is, in some ways, I mean. Why has 
Mark not been nQar the house for the last 
fortnight ? ” 

Punctually at twelve o’clock Mr. David 
Ross arrived. Pie was not a London man ; he 
had come from Yorkshire for the express pur- 
pose of seeing his nieces. He had neither 
part nor lot in his brother’s affair, and was 
himself stern and honorable, rather close as 
concerns money, and rather chary with regard 
to kind words. He had kept aloof from the 
girls for a fortnight, but now he thought it 
well to pay the poor, unhappy girls a visit. 


60 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

They none of them wanted him nor cared for 
him, but that did not at all matter to David 
Eoss. 

“ Well, my dears,” he said, when he entered 
the drawing-room, this is very sad, very 
terrible, and it cannot be regarded as a divine 
dispensation, for it is the result of dishonest 
wickedness. How ai‘e you, Margaret ? You 
look pale ! ” 

“ I am quite well, thank you. Uncle David.” 

Mr. Ross touched his niece’s forehead with 
his lips. The three other girls came up to 
him, and he performed the same cei^emony on 
the brow of each. Then he sat down in a 
deep easy-chair, and stared all round the room. 

This is a handsome apartment,” he said. 

The girls did not feel it necessary to make 
any response to their uncle’s remark. 

‘‘ A very handsome room ! ” he repeated. 

Showily and extravagantly furnished, with 
a vast lot of unnecessary sunshine. And ab- 
solutely flowers, fresh-cut flowers, in the 
vases ! ” 

Poor Mrs. Moore brought them yesterday,” 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


61 


interrupted Betty. She was in the country, 
and she brought a basket back with her. We 
did not buy them. Don’t think so.” 

Sibyl kicked out her foot impatiently. Mr. 
Boss had prominent, light gray eyes — they 
were cold in expression, and could look almost 
lusteiiess when he chose. These lusteiiess 
eyes now gazed full at Betty, and then 
dropped to the level of poor Sibyl’s little 
pointed shoe. 

“ You have grown a good deal, my dear,” 
he said, addressing his youngest niece. You 
are quite a big gii’l for your age. And, by 
the way, how old are you ? ” 

I am nineteen,” said Sibyl, I have been 
grown-up for two years or more.” 

H’m — ha ! That’s as other people think. 
Muriel is seventeen, and she calls herself 
grown-up. Little chit! I consider her an 
infant.” 

The fishy eyes grew softer as Muriel’s 
name was mentioned, and Margaret hastened 
to ask a question or two about her cousin. 

^AVe will speak of Muriel presently, my 


62 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

dears. I will now come briefly to the sub- 
ject which has brought me to town. Plain 
and ugly truths must be put in a j)lain and 
uncompromising fashion ; and, without wish- 
ing unnecessarily to hurt your feelings, I 
must acquaint you with the fact that you are 
penniless and disgraced young women.” 

“No, Uncle, that is not at all the case,” 
suddenly retorted Sibyl. 

“ What do you mean, miss ? ” 

“We are without money, but we are not 
disgraced.” 

*“ How do you put that, my dear niece ? ” 
Sibyl sprang to her feet ; her great beauti- 
ful eyes flashed sudden sparks of Are. 

“ Because no one life can disgrace another,” 
she said ; “ because God has given each of us 
our own lives. He has given me my life, 
and Maggie, and Kitty, and Betty theirs; 
and whatever our father has done, we are 
honorable girls, and we mean to go on being 
honorable gii*ls. We are poor, but -we are 
not disgraced. I deny it for myself, and for 
Maggie, and Kitty, and Betty. When I do 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


63 


a mean, dirty, shabby thing, ray very own 
self, then shall I be disgraced — not before ! ” 

Sibyl rushed to Margaret’s side, put her 
arras round her neck, laid her head on her 
shoulder, and cried quietly. 

Heroics ! ” muttered Uncle David — very 
young heroics ! ” Aloud, he said : “ My dears, 
we must to business. I have come up to 
town at the express request of your Aunt 
Matilda to see if there is any way in which 
we can help you.” 

“ Oh, no, thank you. Uncle,” said Kitty. 

“ Why do you say ‘ Ko, thank you,’ miss ? 
Have you already taken steps to earn your 
own living ? If so, I am pleased to hear it.” 

^Ht has been too soon to take decided 
steps,” responded Betty, “ but Kitty is right ; 
we wish to be independent.” 

“ Oh, pooh ! independent — with nothing a 
year ! Now, my dears, listen to me. This 
house and furniture will be sold by the credi- 
tors. Then you will be homeless, as well as 
penniless. Margaret, who is a well-educated 
girl, can earn a good income as a governess. 


64 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


You two middle ones, Kitty and Betty I be- 
lieve you are called, must get situations some- 
how and somewhere. I will see to that; I 
have a good deal of influence, and I know a 
home for ladies where you will be received 
until such situations are forthcoming. Sibyl 
shall come home with me. Muriel wants a 
companion, and Sibyl shall have the run of 
the house.’’ 

Having delivered himself of this oration in 
a monotonous tone of voice, Mr. Boss sud- 
denly stopped speaking. He looked round 
at his four nieces, and after the pause of a 
full minute said abruptly to Margaret : 

I wish to catch the three o’clock train to 
the north, 'and should be much obliged if you 
would get me a cup of coffee before I start.” 

“ But, uncle ” began Betty. 

Not a word, my dears — not another 
word. Matters are now satisfactorily ar- 
ranged — much better and quicker than writ- 
ing. Margaret, kindly order your servant to 
bring me some coffee.” 

Margaret left the room. She was some lit- 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 65 

tie time away, and during lier absence Mr. 
Ross pottered about, poking his nose into 
every corner, and indulging in disparaging 
remarks generally. 

“ A most expensive room ! ” he said : 
“ridiculous fallals lying about everywhere. 
No wonder my poor, miserable brother dis- 
graced his family! Now look here, Sibyl, 
when you come to Shortlands, you’ll have 
to do with plain furniture — plain dress, plain 
living, plain food. But mind you, no debts, 
no shiftless, beggarly ways — all straight as a 
die, and above board and honorable. Those 
are the ways at Shortlands, and you had 
better be prepared for them when you 
come.” 

“ But I’m not coming. Uncle David.” 

“ Pooh, my dear ! I’ll send you the price 
of a second-class ticket, and expect you to 
arrive this day fortnight. You can’t starve 
in London, child, and as you happen to be 
blessed or cursed, I don’t know which — 
probably the latter, with good looks, the 
sooner you become the inmate of a plain 


66 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

Christian home the better. There, my dear, 
you leave your nonsense and your airs behind 
you in London, and if you do there is noth- 
ing to prevent your having a happy time 
with my little girl Muriel.” 

Again at the mention of Muriel’s name a 
softened expression passed over Mr. Ross’s 
face. Margaret returned to the room, and a 
servant shortly appeared with a tray, which 
contained cotfee and cakes. Mr. Ross drank 
his coffee with relish, ate some cake spar- 
ingly, once again kissed his nieces on their 
foreheads, told Sibyl he would send her a 
postal order for her fare, and expect her to 
arrive at Shortlands that day fortnight, and 
finally left Rosemary Gardens, in ample time 
to catch his return train to the north. 

The moment he was gone Sibyl rushed 
out of the room, dashed up to the top of the 
house, where her own little bedroom was, 
put on her hat, twisted a black lace scarf 
round her neck, and, seizing her parasol and 
gloves, ran downstairs again and out of the 
bouse. It was a fortnight to-day since an 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 67 

arrow liad been planted in tlie poor little 
girl’s heart, and she was not at all accus- 
tomed to its presence there, nor did she feel 
in the least inclined to endure its aching 
wound. 

She left the house now because it seemed 
too small to hold her and her tortured feel- 
ings. 

“ I suppose it’s because I’m younger than 
the others that I feel almost mad with grief,” 
she said to herself. But then Maggie and 
Betty and Kitty have not got Mark. O 
Mark ! what has become of you ? Has the 
ground opened and swallow’^ed you up ? 
Why have you not come near me, nor written, 
nor given me the smallest token of your 
presence since that awdul night a fortnight 
ago ? ” 

Sibyl quickly left Bosemary Gardens. The 
day w^as an intensely hot one in July, but the 
whirl of thoughts in her soul made her indif- 
ferent to the fierce heat of the sun. She 
hurried along the High Street, soon reached 
Kensington Gardens, and sat down under the 


68 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


shade of a widespreading elm-tree. Some 
children were playing in the distance ; some 
nurses were gossiping together ; a little gentle 
breeze came up at intervals, and touched 
Sibyl’s hot cheeks. 

She sat and looked straight before her and 
wondered if she were going through a night- 
mare, and if presently she would awake with 
a start, and find that all her tortures were 
only the result of a bad dream. 

She shook herself impatiently once or twice, 
and, by dint of exercising a tremendous 
amount of imagination, almost brought her- 
self to believe that she was going back pres- 
ently to the old bright home in Eosemary 
Gardens ; that, when she felt tired of sitting 
here, she might cross the High Street, and pass 
through the sheltering gates, and go up into 
the pretty drawing-room ; that Peters would 
bring in the tea-equipage, and Margaret would 
preside, and friends would drop in and chat. 

One friend would come among the others 
— a certain young man, who had a pleasant 
way ; who had a gay voice for talking, whist- 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


69 


ling, and singing ; who could rattle off an air 
on the piano, and give utterance to a trivial 
nothing, which yet, because of the intonation 
and because of the accompanying glance, 
meant — oh, pshaw ! Sibyl sprang to her feet,, 
and shook herself impatiently. 

won’t think in that style any longer,” 
she said half aloud. “ The old life is dead. 
It has been put into a coffin, and bmied 
twenty feet deep under the ground. The 
Mark I used to know is buried with the life. 
What is the use of thinking about what’s gone ? 
I’ll go home and talk to Kitty about Short- 
lands. Hateful Shortlands ! I’m not going 
to live there. Hateful Muriel, with her plain 
dress and plain ways — most hateful Uncle 
David, but I’m not going to 37^ou, and your 
honest Shortlands ! No, I’d rather beg first.” 

“ My dear, how fearfully hot you will make 
yourself if you pace up and down so fast on 
this broiling day,” suddenly remarked an old 
lady, who was sitting near. Sibyl stopped, 
looked at her, half laughed, uttered an almost 
unintelligible apology and hurried home. 


CHAPTER VII. 


There were two ways of reaching No. 80 
Rosemary Gardens : one was the direct path 
which led straight from the gates to the house. 
Up this path Mark Danby had come on the 
morning that Sibyl had sat in the balcony 
and watched him. 

Perhaps for this reason she avoided the 
direct path now, and took the longer way 
round in preference. By this road she lost 
sight of No. 80, and had to traverse two 
sides of the Square before she found it 
again. 

Certainly Rosemary Gardens was a dismal 
place. Most of the houses were stuccoed, 
and the stucco had fallen off in large quan- 
tities, leaving the most dreary of all forms of 
house ugliness behind. Fresh paint was 
almost unknown in the Gardens ; tidiness 
and neatness seemed to have neither part nor 
70 


■i 


OUT OF THE FASHION. . 71 

lot in these dreary old mansions ; nearly half 
of them were empty, with shutters against 
the windows, and dismal black boards, signi- 
fying tliat the mansions were at the disposal 
of the public, leant forlornly against the 
respective railings. 

Sibyl walked hurriedly past these empty 
houses. She had seen them many times 
before, and did not notice them in the least 
now. She was hurrying home, although she 
did not see the least manner of use in hasten- 
ing her steps. 

To get to No. 80 she had to pass a large 
corner house, which, unlike its neighbors, 
showed some tokens of neatness and care. 
It was not a gay house, like No. 80; it was 
stuccoed in drab, like its neighbors to the 
right and left, but the stucco was unbroken 
anywhere ; the railings were whole, the 
windows clean. A wide balcony extended 
beyond the drawing-rooms at this house. It 
was a larger balcony than that which had 
been made so picturesque at No. 80. But it 
contained no striped awning, no flowers, no 


V2 . OUT OF THE FASHION. 

graceful bamboo cliairs and lounges. There 
was a chair in it, however, an old-fashioned 
mahogany chair, with arms, and in the chair 
now sat an old lady. 

Her name was Jessica Power. She w^as 
unmarried, and, for some reason known only 
to herself, she liked all her friends to call her 
Jessica. Even young men, who did not 
know her particularly well, addressed Miss 
Power as “Jessica.” They did so by her 
express invitation, accepting the fact that she 
was a little odd, but liking her none the 
worse for that. 

As Sibyl now passed under the balcony of 
the corner house. Miss Power popped her 
head over the railing and spoke to her. 

“ Is that you, Sibyl Eoss ? Come up : I 
want to speak to you.” 

“Very well, Jessica,” replied Sibyl. 

She ran up the steps and rang the bell. 
In a moment or two a very old servant 
answered her summons. She wore on her 
head a high mob cap, with a broad band of 
black ribbon tied comfortably round the cap 



“the old body dropped 


A RESPECTFUL COURTESY.” 




OUT OF THE FASHION. 


73 


and under her chin. She had a dress made 
of a gayly flowered old-fashioned chintz, with 
sleev^es which used to be called “ leg-of-mut- 
ton,” and a black apron of alpaca, with deep 
pockets. 

“ Your mistress has asked me to run up to 
the drawing-room to speak to her, Susannah,” 
announced Sibyl, when the servant opened 
the door. 

The old body dropped a respectful courtesy, 
pointed to the staircase, mumbled something 
about bringiog up tea in a few minutes, and 
disappeared. 

Sibyl ran upstairs and entered the 
drawing-room. Miss Power came forward to 
meet her. She was dressed in a very rich 
black silk, with a cap of choice lace on her 
head. Her hair was gray, her eyes dark, her 
smile pleasant. 

You have not been near me for a fort- 
night, Sibyl ! ” she said. 

“Oh, Jessica! yoji know why I have not 
come to see you,” replied Sibyl, her lips be- 
ginning to tremble. 


U OUT OF THE FASHION. 

Miss Power took one of SibyFs hands in 
her own. 

“ Come and sit by me in the balcony, my 
love,” she said. “ Here, this is your favorite 
little chair. Now, Sibyl, I saw you passing, 
and an impulse made me call out to you. I 
know everything: there has not been one 
scrap of the gossip which has not reached 
me; Susannah took care of that. Susannah 
doesn’t talk much, but she goes out in the 
evening, and she listens to the gossip of the 
neighbors, and what she hears she gathers 
up. Susannah poured her gatherings into 
my ears for the last fortnight, Sibyl.” 

^^Yes, Jessica.” 

So, my love, I know all about everything 
— I probably know three times or four times 
as much as really happened. But I like to 
assure you on this point, so that you need 
not have to tell me the tale over again. 
Now I asked you to come up to put a plump 
question to you.” 

Very well, Jessica.” 

What a dead-and-alive ‘ very well ’ ! 


OUT OF THE FASHION, 


75 


Why, a fortnight ago, the child could 
scarcely contain her own high spirits, and 
now — I don’t believe Susannah has exag- 
gerated her report so much.” 

She could not have exaggerated,” said 
Sibyl, in a low voice. Nothing, nothing, 
could be worse than what has happened.” 

‘‘Well, my love, well — we won’t go into 
that now. Here’s my plain question, Sibyl : 
Do you and your sisters mean to take a good, 
hard grip of the situation, or will you let 
matters slide ? ” 

Sibyl opened her eyes very wide. For a 
moment a look of resolution and courage 
filled them ; then they drooped, tears 
gathered under the full lids, and a broken, 
crushed kind of voice issued from the soft, 
rosy lips. 

“I feel just now,” said Sibyl, ‘Hhat I must 
let matters slide. There is no grip in me 
anywhere.” 

That is bad, my love, and there must be 
a reason for it, over and above the mere fact 
of your money being gone. The loss of 


76 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

money never crushed Nineteen yet, never — 
impossible. Nineteen laughs at money, and 
doesn’t believe in it. Oh, my dear child, the 
charm and the power and the greatness of 
Nineteen are more than a match for all the 
money in the woidd. You must have an- 
other trouble, Sibyl.” 

Don’t question me, Jessica ! ” 

“ But I must. It is absolutely necessary 
that I should get to the bottom of every- 
thing.” 

Oh ! I can’t be probed. Do turn your 
eyes away. I really cannot bear to be cross- 
examined just now.” 

^^Well, well, poor little girl, I would not 
be unkind for the world. Here comes 
Susannah with the tea. You shall pour me 
out a cup of tea, Sibyl. Susannah, we’ll 
have the little table out here on the balcony. 
Thank you — I see you have remembered all 
my wants. These strawberries look tempt- 
ing, the cream is fresh, and here are Miss 
Sibyl’s own favorite tea-cakes ! Now, Sibyl, 
help me first, and then yourself. That will 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


11 


do, Susannah, you can leave us now, and be 
sure you shut the door after you.” 

Susannah dropped another of her old- 
world courtesies, looked at her mistress, then 
rolled her eyes with an interrogative glance 
at Siby], made no comment with her lips, 
but said unutterable things by means of her 
expressive face, and tripping neatly out of 
the balcony, went across the drawing-room 
and disappeared. 

Susannah is a dear old soul ! ” remarked 
Miss Power. 

I suppose she is,” answered Sibyl, but 
isn’t she a remarkably silent old soul as well ? 
I have hardly ever heard her speak.” 

My love, she never does, except rather 
late in the evening. Then, as a rule, she 
unburdens herself to me. Her words come 
with a rush, and I expect the effort exhausts 
her, for I can scarcely get her to articulate 
until the same hour arrives the following 
night. But now to return to you and your 
sisters. How are the other three girls, by 
the way ? ” 


78 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


“ I suppose they are quite well.” 

“ Is Margaret quite well ? If there is one 
of you about whom I have felt a degree of 
anxiety, that one is Margaret.” 

Thank you, Jessica. Margaret is not 
ill.” 

“Well, that is good news. I knew she 
was a brave girl. In fact, you all are. 
You’ll all take a firm grip presently, even 
you, my poor little nineteen-year-old.” 

“Jessica,” said Sibyl, suddenly, “do you 
know that Uncle David Ross came to see us 
to-day ? He has offered me a home at Short- 
lands.” 

“ Well, my love ? ” 

“ I am to go and live there, Jessica, to be a 
companion to Muriel Ross. I am to help to 
amuse her, and for that purpose he says I 
shall have the run of the house.” 

“ Yes, dear.” 

“You wouldn’t say ‘Yes, dear,’ in that 
calm voice, Jessica, if you had listened to 
Uncle David this morning. He says the 
house is a plain house, the people plain, the 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


79 


ways plain. By ^ plain’ read ^ugly,’ — the 
people are ugly, and their ways are mean.” 

Oh, tut, child ! you have no right to speak 
in that fashion.” 

Miss Power got up, shook some crumbs out 
of her black silk dress, and, leaning over the 
balcony, looked down the gardens as far as 
she could see. 

“ There is nobody coming,” she said, after a 
pause. 

No,” returned Sibyl, with a sigh. “ No- 
body ever does come, just now.” 

Miss Power gave the girl a quick look. 

“ Go home, my love,” she said, after a 
pause. Come back to see me to-night, or 
to-mori-ow, or any time when you feel 
stronger, and in the meantime take a message 
from me to the sister who has the greatest 
taste for housekeeping, who has the largest 
supply of spirit to carry her through this 
adversity, and who, in short, is most likely 
to take a grip of the situation. Which of 
your sisters will you send to see me, 
Sibyl?” 


80 OUT OF THE FASHION, 

Sibyl absolutely laughed, and the dawning 
of interest began to appear in her eyes. 

Jessica,” she said, ^^you are like no one 
else. You never do things without meaning. 
What can be your meaning now ? ” 

^^Youdl know fast enough, child, if I can 
see sufficient grip in any of the family. It 
all depends on that. Now, who will you 
send ? ” 

Margaret always used to be our house- 
keeper, and she is brave — oh, very brave. 
But I think, Jessica, I do think somewhere 
below the surface Maggie carries about with 
her a broken heart. You know what she 
thought of our — our father.” 

I know, child. I know perfectly. Poor 
Maggie ! I always knew it would come 
hardest on her.” 

“But she is a very good housekeeper, 
Jessica. Shall I send her to you ? ” 

“ Perhaps not, my dear. She will find her 
niche, no doubt, but I must have spirit as 
well as talent — I must have cheerfulness, 
dash, daring.” 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 81 

“ Good gracious, Jessica ! what can you 
mean ? ” 

I thought I’d excite your curiosity, Sibyl. 
I see, my love, that you’ll recover by and by. 
You feel low enough to-day, but in the end 
you won’t let matters slide. Please now tell 
me about your middle sisters. Wliat about 
Kitty and Betty.? Describe their characters. 
Speak of them as if you were wilting a de- 
scription to go into a novel.” 

Sibyl laughed again. 

Kitty is very fearless,” she began. 

Fearless — that is good. What else is 
Kitty?” 

“She has such high spirits that even 
during the last fortnight she has been heard 
to laugh ; she is awfully clever, and she can 
say sharp, witty things ; she is quick, too, and 
practical.” 

“Capital girl Kitty must be,” rejoined 
Jessica. “ Now about Betty ? ” 

“ Betty is nearly as good a housekeeper as 
Maggie. She is a better cook than Kitty, 
and she is clever with her needle. In other 


82 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


ways she is Kitty’s shadow ; they are 
scarcely ever apart, and I am almost sure 
they think the same thoughts.” 

“ Excellent — most excellent. Send them 
both to see me to-morrow morning. I bi*eak- 
fast at eight. Let them be here sharp at 
nine. Now, one question more. Who are 
your solicitors ? ” 

Our what?” 

My dear, there must be some business 
people acting for you, or if not for you, at 
any rate for your father’s creditors. If you 
do not know the name, find it out, and send 
me word at once.” 

think I do know, for Margaret has 
mentioned them several times. Messrs. 
Eogers & Turner, of Lincoln’s Inn Fields.” 

“Thank you, my dear child.- Now you 
can run home. Be sure you give my mes- 
sage to Kitty and Betty.” 


CHAPTER VIII. 


Sibyl ran downstairs, and, without waiting 
for Susannah’s aid, let herself out into the 
street. There was animation once more in 
her face and bearing. She looked younger 
than when she had entered the house. She 
did not know why she felt hopeful, but hope 
unquestionably once more shone in her eyes. 
She was conscious of a distinct sense of curi- 
osity, and prepared to rush eagerly home, 
and give an animated account of her inter- 
view with Jessica Power. 

She raced down the massive flight of stone 
steps which led from the deep portico to the 
street. Then she stood still. The color 
mshed like a flood all over her face. The 
next moment it receded, leaving it stricken, 
and pale, and wretched. Mark Dan by was 
walking fast to meet her ; he came up, and, 
before she could prevent him, took one of her 
hands in both of his. 


83 


84 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


I have been at No. 80,” he said ; you 
were not there. Kitty was in, and she gave 
me some tea. I thought, perhaps, you were 
with Jessica ; I meant to call on the chance.” 

Mark spoke in a hurry. All the time he 
was speaking his eyes were fixed on Sibyl’s 
face. They were dark eyes, bold and eager 
in expression. Sibyl would have given 
worlds to turn from their gaze at that instant. 
The sudden meeting agitated her. She was 
dreadfully afraid of tears coming. She knew 
she ought to be cold, and proud, and distant. 
She hated the flutter of joy which filled her 
heart ; and she was painfully conscious that 
her face was a transparent one, and that 
Mark was looking through it into her soul. 

“Haven’t you a word to say to me, 
Sibyl?” 

“ Oh ! of course, Mark, how do you do ? 
Please let go my hand.” 

Danby unclasped his own strong hands 
slowly. 

“You don’t look well,” he said, in a grave 
voice. “ You look much worse than Kitty.” 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 85 

'' Oh, please don’t talk about my looks.” 

Well, I have a good many other things 
to talk about. W^here can we go to have a 
quiet time ? ” 

“ Nowhere.” 

Sibyl, you don’t mean that ? ” 

Dauby turned round and looked once more 
at the young girl. She tried to avoid return- 
ing his glance. Then her shy eyes were 
raised to his. He smiled at her ; and, in 
spite of herself, Sibyl returned the smile. 

My little darling,” he said, in a fervent, 
passionate voice. 

He drew Sibyl’s hand through his arm. 
Nobody saw them in the old, deserted 
gardens. 

Let us come into the Square garden ; it 
will be absolutely empty,” said Danby. 

They w^ent there without another word. 
The Square garden had one or two broken- 
down rural seats. It was a place not kept in 
any kind of order, and, but for its tennis- 
court, would have been a howling wilderness 
long ago. When Danby and Sibyl entered 


86 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

the garden the tennis-court was empty. 
They found a rustic seat which was suffi- 
ciently whole to bear their weight, and sat 
down side by side. Dauby sat close to Sibyl. 
She did not move away ; she remained abso- 
lutely motionless, her hands crossed idly on 
her light summer dress, her eyes gazing 
straight before her. Once again her eyes had 
grown dark and deep, and looked like spring 
violets in the midst -of her fair face. 

Mark Dauby had almost killed her with 
his neglect, but this was absolutely forgotten 
now; he had come back again — he would 
give a good reason for the absence which had 
almost broken her heart. 

“ Sibyl, you know what I was coming for 
that day ? ” he began, suddenly. Speak to 
me, look at me, say you know.” 

But — but you didn’t come, Mark.” 

“ I will explain that later. Answer my 
question now. Say you know what I was 
coming about.” 

“ I — I — am not quite sure.” 

“ Sibyl, are you speaking the truth ? Look 


» 

> 







OUT OF Tn^ FASBION. 8l 

at me, look me full in the face, and say those 
words again. Say again that you are not 
quite sure.” 

Sibyl would have given the world to make 
a saucy rejoinder. She could not; she felt 
exactly as if she were under a spell ; her lips 
quivered ; she turned her head, and looked 
at Mark. 

“ I did know,” she said, almost in a 
whisper. 

“ Ah, my little darling ! I won’t torture 
you any longer. I w^as coming to ask you to 
be my wife : I ask you now. Come into my 
arms, and say ^ Yes ’ there.” 

Danby came closer, folded his arms round 
the girl, who half shrunk from, half leant 
against him, and printed a kiss on her lips. 

“You will be my wife?” said he. 

“ Oh, Mark, I love you ! ” said Sibyl. 

And now all the tears of a fortnight past 
appeared to have broken their barriers. She 
struggled in vain to restrain them ; they would 
have their way, and came, accompanied by a 
few deep-drawn, painful sobs. 


88 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

Mark Danby was like many other men ; be 
hated to see a woman cry. He was fond of 
Sibyl, but he wished she would not weep so 
violently while she leant against him. 

“You have not answered my question,” he 
said, presently. “ I have asked you to be my 
wife. I want to hear ‘Yes’ from those lips, 
and, Sibyl, I want those pretty eyes of yours 
to look at me through smiles, not tears.” 

Sibyl made a tremendous effort. Her 
choking, painful sobs grew less ; they ceased. 
She even gave Mark the smile he wished for. 

“ You will be my wife, darling ? ” said the 
young man, stooping and kissing her once 
again. At the second kiss she started back, 
and almost pushed him from her. 

“ You mustn’t kiss me any more,” she said. 
“ I am not yours.” 

“ Not mine ! I like that, and just after 
telling me that you loved me — and, Sibyl, 
you look as if you loved me.” 

“Yes, Mark, I do love you.” 

“ Tlien why do you say you are not 
mine ? ” Danby suddenly pulled out his 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 89 

watch. I say ! I had no idea it was so 
late. I have to be at Waterloo to catch a 
train for the country before seven o’clock. 
Now, Sibyl, you know you love me, and of 
course you’ll be my wife. We must be 
married soon — very soon — almost at once. 
I’ll come to see you again early next week, 
only let me hear ^ Yes ’ from the lips I love 
best before I go.” 

“Dear, dear Mark, I long to say Wes,’ but 
I dare not, I must not. My people are dis- 
graced, and I won’t bring disgrace upon you. 
I said to Uncle David Ross to-day that my 
father’s dishonor could not spoil my life, but, 
oh, it does — it does — cruelly ! ” 

“ Sib, you are a perfect little goose. 
What do I care about your father, or any 
nonsense of that sort ? We’ll be married, my 
dear, and live happy ever after. To hear 
you talk, anyone would suppose you had 
been having a conversation with my worldly 
old mother.” 

“ Ah,” said Sibyl, with a start, “ I knew 
Lady Jane Danby would not approve of me.” 


90 OtTT OF THE FASHION. 

‘‘‘ Let her not approve ! I do, and I sup- 
pose I am the person to be principally con- 
sidered. Now, Sibyl, I really must fly ; give 
me another kiss, and say ^ Yes.’ ” 

Sibyl struggled against the kiss, not out- 
wardly, but in that mental part of her being 
which told her to be stiff and cold and to 
flee from temptation. But her struggle was 
feeble and ineffectual. The kiss was given 
and returned, and something was murmured 
into Mark’s ears which appeared to satisfy 
him. He crushed the girl’s hands between 
his own so frantically that she almost cried 
with pain, and, promising to Avrite and to 
return without fail the following week, he 
left her. 

Sibyl came out of the Square garden 
presently, with a confused, delirious sense of 
bliss in her heart, and an intangible, and yet 
very real prickiug of her conscience. 

She was engaged to Mark Danby ; her 
wish was granted ; her crowning desire given 
to her. She loved him with the fervor of a 
very passionate, willful nineteen-year-old girl. 


OUT OF TUE FASHION. 


91 


He was full of faults, and she thought him a 
god. 

Poor conscience ! It had not much chance 
of being heard just then. The more Sibyl 
thought of what had happened the greater 
rose her ecstasy. When she entered No. 80, 
it seemed once more to herself that she was 
treading on air. 

Since the crash of a fortnight ago the girls 
had given up late dinner ; Peters, with 
several other servants, had disappeared from 
the establishment. The cooking at No. 80 
was scanty just now, and the attendance of 
the most meager. Except five o’clock tea, a 
meal which no woman under any circum- 
stances will do without, the Posses took food 
anyhow, anywhere, and anywhen. They 
were now in the di’awing-room, and might, or 
might not, take supper before they retired 
for the night. 

Sibyl was rushing past the closed doors of 
the drawing-room to seek the shelter of her 
own bedroom, when suddenly a pair of hands 
were placed before her eyes from behind, and 


92 


OUT OF THE FASHION, 


Kitty’s high, cheerful, but somewhat teasing, 
voice was heard : 

Not a bit of it. Sib ! You are not going 
to banish yourself in this style. Come right 
into the drawing-room, and tell us what you 
have been doing all these long hours when 
you have so mysteriously absented yourself. 
If you are a good girl, and give a fair, un- 
varnished account of your doings. I’ll tell 
you who I had the pleasure of entertaining 
in your absence.” 

Kitty, do let me go upstairs, I’m so 
tired,” pleaded Sibyl. 

“ Tired ? I never saw you look better in 
my life.” 

^^But I am tired, really. I look well 
because my cheeks are flushed.” 

“Well, I suppose if you must banish your- 
self, you must. Poor little Sib ! Margaret is 
in the drawing-room, and so is Betty, and we 
were having a rather interesting discussion 
with regard to ways and means.” 

“ Oh, I don’t want to hear it — I canH 
listen.” 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


93 


As you please, my love. It concerns you 
as well as the rest of us. We were on the 
subject of summer dress, when I heard 
your fairy footfall, and rushed out to way- 
lay you.” 

“You will excuse my coming in, Kitty, 
and oh ! I had a message for you. You and 
Betty are to go and see Jessica in the 
morning.” 

“Jessica? I don’t know that we’ll have 
time.” 

“ You must go ; she has sent a most par- 
ticular message. You have to be there at 
nine o’clock. I really do think it’s some- 
thing important.” 

“Well, I’ll tell Betty. Why doesn’t 
Jessica send for Margaret if she has impor- 
tant things to talk over ? Sibyl, you have 
not guessed whom I entertained this after- 
noon.” 

“ I know,” answered Sibyl. “ You gave 
Mark Danby his tea.” 

“ Then you met him ? ” 

“Yes.” 


94 


OUT OF TUB FASHION. 


“ Look at me, Sibyl. Hold up your head. 
Look me full in the face.” 

^‘Yes, Kitty.” 

Sibyl!” 

^^Yes, Kitty; I’m not ashamed — I am 
engaged to Mark. I am going to marry 
him.” 


CHAPTER IX. 


Miss Power was old and rich, and had ap- 
parently nothing whatever to do. Neverthe- 
less she kept early hours, and never wasted a 
moment of her time. Punctually as the clock 
struck eight she sat down at the head of her 
modest breakfast-table, and drank the coffee, 
and helped herself to the nice fried bacon 
which Susannah invariably prepared for her. 

Susannah, in her queer, old-fashioned dress, 
stood behind Miss Power’s chair while she 
ate. Susannah looked intensely grim and re- 
spectful in this attitude, never indulging in 
speech, but showing by the queer contortions 
and varying expressions of her features that 
her thoughts were very busy. 

Miss Power read the Times as she sipped 
her coffee, and when the meal was over the 
old servant brought the big family Bible, 

and Jane, the kitchen-maid, was summoned 
95 


I 


96 OUT OF TEE FASHION. 

up, and Miss Power read a few verses aloud. 
She never prayed, she only read the verses, 
and when she had finished she invariably 
went up to her drawingroom, where she 
busied herself for an hour or two, getting 
it into the prim state of neatness which she 
loved best. 

On this particular morning Susannah fol- 
lowed her mistress upstairs. She entered the 
drawing-room without knocking, and stood 
silent and respectful just within the door. 
Miss Power was maturing a stand of beau- 
tiful ferns ; she turned round and said 
abruptly : 

“ I am coming to the kitchen by and by, 
Susannah ; if you have any complaint to 
make of Jane yon can make it then.” 

‘^Eh, ma’am, not I,” answered Susannah.- 
She closed her lips with a snap, as if she 
were locking them, but still she lingered in 
the room. 

Miss Power stood still for a moment; a 
slight passing expression of annoyance swept 
over her fine face. It did not linger there ; 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


97 


she went up to the old servant, and spoke 
quietly : 

“You have something on your mind, 
Susannah. Say it in as few words as pos- 
sible, for I am expecting friends to call 
this morning, and am consequently very 
busy.” 

“Y know,” retorted Susannah, “/ know 
who are coming.” 

“Very well; if you have anything to say 
about my visitors, say it and then go.” 

“ Eh, ma’am, it’s only this,” said Susannah ; 
she raised her sunken eyes, which were sud- 
denly lighted with an inward fire. “ It’s only 
a word, ma’am, and it won’t be hearkened to. 
Still, I must say it. Money’s hard to win, and 
easy to lose, and sore to do without, and who 
are those Rosses, I want to know. That’s 
what I say to myself. Who, and what are 
those Rosses ? ” 

“You can go downstairs now, Susannah,” 
replied Miss Power. 

The old servant turned and left the room 
without another word. 


98 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


“Susannah, does not approve,” murmured 
Miss Power to herself. 

She did not say anything more, but, open- 
ing the windows which led into the balcony, 
stepped out, and looked up the Gardens in 
the direction of the Posses’ house. She saw 
no sign of Betty and Kitty approaching, but a 
postman just then ran up the high steps of 
her house, and deposited a letter in the box. 
A moment later Susannah brought it in, and 
presented it to her mistress on a silver salver. 

Miss Power read the contents of her letter 
slowly, and with interest. Three sides of a 
sheet were closely written, and these were the 
contents : 

Ashton Manor, July 11. 

My Dear Jessica : 

There is not the least doubt that niy foolish son 
Mark has gone absolutely to the length of flirting 
with a girl who lives somewhere in your Gardens. 
You know my views for Mark, and how much turns 
on them. Of course, under these circumstances, any 
wife of his own choosing would be unacceptable to me, 
but when, in addition, I discover that the object of his 
preference is one of the daughters of that dreadful 
man whose name has so lately figured in the news- 
papers — I allude to the Ross and Banbury business — 
you may guess what my feelings must be. 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 99 

It is impossible for a mother to control the doings 
of a son who is not only grown up but a good deal 
over age. But tact, my dear Jessica, tact can do 
wonders in these delicate cases, and I am sure if it is 
in your power you will help me in this matter. What- 
ever happens, Mark must marry into a good family, 
and his wife must have money. You know how in- 
secure my present position is, and will fully sympa- 
thize with me. 

Yours affectionately, 

Jane Danby. 

P. S. — I should be very glad to see you at Ashton 
Manor on Saturday, 25th, until Monday, 27th, if you 
can tear yourself away from your queer, delightful, 
funny old house, and queerer, and more delightful 
hand-maiden Susannah. 

‘‘ But I cannot tear myself away from 
them,” murmured Miss Power. “ This letter 
from beginniug to end is balderdash. I 
never did care for you, Jane Danby, and I 
certainly do not feel inclined to begin to do 
so after reading a letter like this.” 

Miss Power slipped it into her pocket as 
she spoke, for at this moment the drawing- 
room door was opened and Kitty and Betty, 
looking sweet and radiant in fresh cambric 
dresses, rushed in. 


100 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

“Dear Jessica,” they both exclaimed. 
They ran up to the old lady, and kissed her 
affectionately. 

“ Sibyl said yoii wanted to see us,” 
remarked Kitty. “We are awfully busy, for 
the house and furniture are to be sold next 
week. And we want to take lodgings at 
once, and not to go to that dreadful home for 
women.” 

“ No, we’d certainly die there,” interposed 
Betty. “ In homes of that sort nobody 
laughs, and nobody plays, and Kitty and I 
couldn’t stand it — could we, Kitty ? ” 

“ No,” said Kitty. “Margaret is the only 
one of us who could live long in the sort of 
neutral atmosphere which must pervade a 
cheap home for women.” 

“And Margaret is the one of you all who 
needs the most sunshine,” replied Miss 
Power. “Well, my dears, I have not the 
least idea to what home you are alluding, but 
if you don’t like it, perhaps you won’t have 
to go.” 

“That depends,” answered Kitty. “Uncle 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 101 

David Ross came to see us yesterday, and lie 
said he would find situations for Betty and 
Margaret and me as governesses, or shop- 
women, or something of that sort. Until he 
found the situations, we were to live in the 
woman’s home. He thought we could not 
help ourselves, for of course he thought we 
had no money. Well, Jessica, he is wrong; 
you know the very night before father dis- 
appeared he gave Margaret one hundred 
pounds in ten-pound notes — when the earth- 
quake came, and everything that seemed 
right turned out to be wrong, Margaret took 
the money back to the solicitors in Lincoln’s 
Inn Fields, who had written to her. But 
Margaret thought, she said so, that our jewels 
were our very own, and we sold them a week 
ago, and even after paying poor Mrs. Moore 
we really have a little money left, and we 
thought we might go and live in lodgings to- 
gether until the situations are found for us.” 

“So we can’t stay very long with you, 
Jessica,” continued Betty. “ For we want to 
go and search for the lodgings to-day.” 


102 OUT OF TEE FASHION. 

“ Well, my loves, well, if you carry out 
your plan, you will have plenty of time to 
look for lodgings by and by. Now, I’ve 
sent for you because I want you. I want 
you both absolutely to devote this morning 
to me.” 

The girls were too polite to express im- 
patience in their voices, but not clever 
enough to keep it out of their faces. 

^^Sit down, my loves,” said Miss Power, 
who read their thoughts easily enough, but 
did not seem in any way disturbed by them. 

Sibyl told you I wanted to see you, did she 
not ? ” 

Yes. Oh, what do you think, Jessica ? 
Sibyl has engaged herself to Mark Danby ! ” 

Miss Power put her hand into her pocket, 
and gave Lady Jane’s letter a vicious little 
pinch. Aloud she said in a calm, unsur- 
prised voice : 

^‘Was Sibyl engaged when she called to 
see me yesterday ? ” 

“ No ; she met Mark afterward in the 
Gardens, and he proposed to hei*. She was 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


103 


very late in coming home, and when she re- 
turned she seemed fearfully excited, and she 
said she was engaged to Mark. Maggie had 
a long talk with her, and Maggie cried dread- 
fully and wanted Sibyl to give Mark up, but 
Sib only laughed, and kept on repeating : 
^ I am engaged, and I mean to marry him, 
and there is an end of the matter.’ ” 

Did Sibyl seem happy ? ” inquired Miss 
Power. 

“ Well, Jessica,” replied Betty, “everyone 
who saw them together must have noticed 
that Sibyl adored Mark. In fact she wor- 
shiped him. It was a case of idolatry, on 
her part at least.” 

Miss Power not only pinched Lady Jane’s 
letter now ; she absolutely tore a little piece 
out of it as it lay in her pocket. 

“ How does Sibyl’s engagement strike you, 
Jessica ? ” asked Kitty. “ Do you not think 
it is just a wee bit heartless of Sib to think 
of such matters just now ? ” 

“ No, my love, I do not. If there ever 
was a girl possessed of too much heart for 


104 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

lier own peace of mind, tliat girl is poor little 
nineteen-year-old. But, my dears, this valu- 
able morning must not be wasted discussing 
anyone’s engagement. Business is business, 
and there is much at stake. Now tell how 
much you both know of housekeeping.” 

After this startling and unexpected turn 
being given to the conversation, the girls 
found for a moment or two that their 
interests hung fire, and they did not guess 
that Miss Power w^as really putting them 
through a very searching examination. 

At the end of half an hour she started to 
her feet with a satisfied expression on her 
face. 

Now, my loves,” she said, “ you will 
kindly wait here while I go upstairs and put 
on my bonnet.” 

“Do you want us to go out wuth you, 
Jessica?” 

“ I do ; I am going to see your lawyers, 
Messrs. Eogers & Turner, and I want you 
to come and introduce me to them. I have 
ordered a carriage to be here sharp at ten. 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 105 

Kitty, my dear, you can stand in the balcony 
and let me know when it arrives. Betty, I 
have a small task to give you. Here are my 
last week’s accounts, tliey are somewhat in a 
muddle. Put them as straight as you can 
while I am getting ready to go out.” 


CHAPTER X. 


Betty had really a clear head for figures, 
but it must be confessed that on this occa- 
sion either nervousness, or an overstimulated 
curiosity as to Miss Power’s extraordinary 
behavior, made her bungle the said accounts 
in a unsatisfactory manner. Miss Power 
came back in her black velvet poke-bonnet, 
with the old-fashioned Sj^anish black veil, 
which she always wore, tied loosely round it, 
a magnificent Spanish black lace shawl on 
her shoulders, black lace gloves on her hands, 
and an old-fashioned parasol of dove-colored 
silk as the finishing touch to her attire. 

Miss Powei*’s hair was as wdiite as silver, 
and she looked a most picturesque old lady 
when she returned in her quaint dress to the 
drawing-room. 

“ Come, girls,” she said to the two. She 
took no notice of Betty’s untidy and hope- 
106 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 107 

less sums, but swept tlie pair ou before her 
downstairs, and into the delightful carriage 
wliich awaited them. Miss Power was very 
particular about her carriage, and it was a 
faultless turnout which rolled past No. 80, 
and out through the gates of Eosemaiy 
Gardens. Kitty suddenly laughed aloud. 
It was the soft feel of the summer breeze fly- 
ing across her young cheeks which caused 
this burst of merriment. 

Jessica,” she said, “while I sit here I for- 
get the earthquake. If it would not look 
too dreadfully outrCj I should like to hug 
you this very minute for making me so 
happy.” 

“ But you mustn’t do it, Kitty,” interrupted 
Betty, “ for if you do I shall certainly have to 
follow suit, and what a mess Jessica’s bonnet 
would get into then.” 

“ And I want to appear respectable, my 
loves, when I sit in the presence of your 
lawyers,” retorted Miss Power, “ so, if you 
please, we will reserve our embraces.” 

“Just for one instant, Jessica, give me your 


108 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


hand to squeeze,” answered Kitty, and then 
I’ll positively promise to sit quiet.” 

The pair of grays soon brought the party 
to Lincoln’s Inn Fields. In this secluded 
quarter the noise of the great city sounded 
dim and far away. At Miss Power’s request, 
Kitty got out of the carriage, and went to 
inquire if Mr. Kogers was within. He was 
and, for a wonder, disengaged. In five min- 
utes’ time Miss Power and the two girls 
found themselves seated in his office. 

‘‘Kitty, will you have the goodness to 
introduce me ? ” said Miss Power. Kitty 
blushed a good deal. 

“ Miss Power is an old neighbor of ours, Mr. 
Kogers,” she said. “She lives at 50 Kose- 
mary Gardens. We have known her for a 
long time now.” 

“ The children have found me odd, but re- 
spectable,” retorted Miss Power. “ I live with 
an old servant, who is even a little more odd 
than I am. I keep no cats, no dogs, no 
parrots. By this abstinence in the matter of 
pets I prove at once my strength of mind. 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


109 


and the unique nature of my character. But 
perhaps, sir, another side of my life and cir- 
cumstances may interest you more vastly. I 
am rich.” 

Mr. Rogers was a very commonplace man. 
He had been staring at Miss Power in a some- 
what quizzical and disdainful manner until 
she said ^‘1 am rich.” Then his tone and 
look both became respectful. Miss Power 
knew this would be the case, and she longed 
to have someone to nod to, to express her 
inw^ard satisfaction. 

^‘1 am delighted to make your acquaint- 
ance, madam,” said Mr. Rogers. “ And — 
and — I am pleased that these poor young 
ladies should have the benefit of your wise 
counsels at — at — this critical juncture.” 

It so happens,” said Miss Power, that I 
have brought my young friends, Kitty and 
Betty Ross, here to-day solely and entirely 
for the furtherance of my own purposes. I 
wanted to be introduced to you, for, being 
the owner of a good deal of surplus capital, I 
am anxious to make an investment.” 


110 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


Mr. Rogers’s face became eager and ab- 
sorbed. 

“I should be delighted to give you any 
advice,” he said. Ah — ^perhaps — would 

you like the young ladies to go into my 
waiting-room? My clerk will supply them 
with some numbers of the Grajphic^ and last 
week’s Punch. You are fond of Punchy eh, 
Miss Kitty ? ” 

Miss Power did not give Kitty time to 
answer. ^ 

I should prefer the girls to remain where 
they are,” she said. Now, if you please, v/e 
will proceed to business. I am given to 
understand that No. 80 Rosemary Gardens is 
in the market ? ” 

Well, yes, my dear madam. You see, in 
an unfortunate case of this kind the cred- 
itors ” 

Miss Power interrupted with a wave of 
her lace-gloved hand. 

Forgive me,” she said. am not inter- 
ested in the creditors. The property is for 
sale ? ” 


OUT OF THE FASHION. Ill 

“Undoubtedly. It will be sold by auc- 
tion next week. This day week, I believe ; 
I will ring for my clerk and inquire.” 

“One moment first — the furniture is also 
for sale ? ” 

“ Yes. House and furniture go either to- 
gether or separately — probably the latter. 
I propose to sell both together, if I can, at 
Tokenhouse Yard, but if the house alone is 
sold, the furniture will be put up at auction 
the following week.” ^ 

“And all your pretty things will go to 
strangers, Betty,” said Miss Power, turning 
and looking at the young girl. 

Betty’s eyes filled with tears. She cauglit 
Kitty’s hand in her own, and looked steadily 
out of the dusty window. 

“Auctions are naturally painful things,” 
proceeded Mr. Bogers. “But under the 
present peculiarly sad circumstances ” 

“ Going into the circumstances will neither 
aid nor hinder the matter in hand,” said Miss 
Power. “My feelings with regard to auc- 
tions are that they are sacrilegious. The 


112 


our OF THE FASHION. 


sale of a house and furniture by public auc- 
tion seems to me almost wicked. I have 
come here to-day to know if it is necessary 
to sell No. 80 Rosemary Gardens, with its 
furniture, plate, china, by auction ? ” 

By no means, my dear madam, but it 
seemed the speediest way to realize, and for 

the sake of the creditors ” 

I heg of you, my dear sir, not to go into 
these side questions. I don’t care the pro- 
verbial bi;^ss farthing for the creditors, but 
having no other pets, I make pets of these 
children, and their feelings are sacred to me. 
Now I have come here to-day to make a 
straightforward and blunt proposal. But 
first I must ask some questions. Is No. 80 a 
freehold ? ” 

“ It is, Miss Power.” 

That is good. I dislike leaseholds. I 
hate being worried with yearly ground-rents. 
Now, what did you expect to realize for the 
house in Tokenhouse Yard next week ? ” 

Mr. Rogers hummed and hawed. 

^^I — I — don’t know,” he admitted. 




A 










OUT OF THE FASHION. 113 

enforced sale is always injurious, and then 
the situation, for some extraordinary reason, 
is not popular.” 

beg of you, sir, not to speak against 
Rosemary Gardens. I reside there.” 

My dear madam, a thousand pardons. I 
have no doubt you find it as salubrious a 
spot as to be found in London.” 

“ That is neither here nor there, Mr. 
Rogers. The fact is I wish to purchase No. 
80 Rosemary Gardens. I wish to become 
the owner of the house, the furniture, the 
plate, the china, linen — in short the whole 
concern as it stands. I don’t want the house 
and its belongings to go to the hammer. 
Can we make an arrangement on the spot? 
But first, perhaps, my dear girls, you would 
now go into the other room, and look at 
Punch for a few minutes ? ” 

When the door closed behind Kitty and 
Betty, Miss Power turned sharply round to 
Mr. Rogers. 

Listen,” she said. I don’t wish to give 
a penny more than I can help for this house 


114 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

and furniture. Name a fair sura, and I will 
MU'ite you a check as soon as ever my lawyer, 
Mr. Percival, at the opposite side of the road, 
has examined your title-deeds. Don’t over- 
do it, my dear sir, nor imagine for a moment 
that because I am wealthy I am also extrava- 
gant.” 

After this speech Miss Power and Mr. 
Eogers had a rather fierce, not to say angry 
tussle of words, but in the end the old lady 
left the lawyer’s office Avith a flushed, tri- 
umphant, but pleased expression of face. 

“WeAvill go over and see Mr. Percival 
now,” she said to the girls. Not a Avord, my 
loves — not a Avord at present. The matter 
looks promising, but it is not concluded. 
Nothing can be concluded until I have an in- 
terview with my friend John Percival.” 

Kitty and Betty had to sit for nearly an 
hour in Miss PoAA^er’s landau AAffiile she inter- 
viewed her OAvn man of business. She came 
out at the end of this time, and, taking a hand 
of each girl in her OAvn, said : 

“ My loA^es, A7e will now go home. I think 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 115 

I have concluded my business in a satisfactory 
manner, and I can at least promise you that 
there will be no auction at No. 80 Eosemary 
Gardens.” 

Daring the rest of the drive the trio were 
silent. Whatever their feelings, their inward 
thoughts, their speculations, they gave them 
no vent in words. When they reached the 
Gardens and drew up at No. 80, Miss Power 
for the first time opened her lips. 

What time do you dine ? ” she asked. 

AVe don’t dine, Jessica,” answered Betty. 
We have no cook, Jessica,” chimed in 
Kitty. Therefore, of course we have no 
dinner.” 

^^AVell, my loves, at what hour in the even- 
ing do you all — Sibyl, Maggie, and all — as- 
semble in your drawing-room ? ” 

Oh, Sibyl is so erratic, we can never count 
on her.” 

^Wou must count on her to-night. Give 
her my love, and a request from me that she 
will present herself in the drawing-room of 
Nq. 80 at seven o’clock this evening. Maggie 


116 


OUT OF TBB FASHION. 


must also be there, and, of course, you two 
girls.” 

Very well, Jessica.” 

“ Of course, you will be alone, remember. 
I am coming to talk business — solemn, dry 
technicalities must be gone into.” 

“ Oh, very well.” 

^^What a demure, ‘very well’ from your 
lips, Kitty ! Aren’t you glad there is not go- 
ing to be any horrid auction — that the furni- 
ture and the house are not going to be torn 
asunder ? ” 

“Yes, yes — so glad that if I speak about it 
I shall cry.” 

“Kitty, Rosemary Gardens is after all an 
out-of-the-way corner of the world ; peo- 
ple may be eccentric here if they please. 
You may kiss me now, Kitty, and so may 
you, Betty. Good-by, my loves; expect me 
to-night at seven.’’ 


CHAPTEE XI. 


^This drawing-room belongs to Jessica 
now,” said Kitty, and I am going to make 
it bright for her. She is the most wonderful 
woman I ever came across in my life. She 
is the sweetest, perhaps the dearest, but I do 
not think she has good taste in the matter of 
drawing-rooms. Hers is all drab and old 
china; the old china is splendid, and the 
drab is artistic, but, somehow, the general ef- 
fect is dull.” 

And No. 80 never, never at any time 
looked dull ! ” said Betty. 

Yes, it did once, Betty,” retorted her 
sister ; the day Uncle David Eoss sat in 
that chair, and screwed up his short-sighted 
eyes, and looked as if he thought sunshine 
wicked. Well, the room shall have all the 
light we can get into it to-night, and how do 
my flowers look, Bet ? You must not whis- 
117 


118 0 TIT OF THE FASHION. 

per it to Maggie, but I spent five sliillings on 
those flowers.” 

Kitty and Betty bad told no one of tbeir 
adventures that morning. Margaret and 
Sibyl knew that Miss Power wished to see 
them in their own drawing-room at seven 
o’clock. Margaret suggested having tea for 
the old lady, and Sibyl, ^vho loved her very 
much, spent threepence out of her own 
slender purse to buy cream to put into the 
tea when it appeared. But only Kitty and 
Betty knew the news which Miss Power 
would bring, and which w^ould electrify the 
elder and the younger sister. 

At seven o’clock the four girls were all 
waiting in the drawing-room. Kitty and 
Betty, who were in the secret, looked very 
bright and very much excited. Margaret’s 
face was pale, and its expression downcast, 
but Sibyl was radiantly and quietly happy. 
The almost feverish excitement of twenty- 
four hours back had subsided. Something 
had happened in her life which raised her, 
for the time being, high above the sorrows 


OUT OF THE FASHION. lid 

and joys of penury and riclies. Witli this 
delicious news in her heart she could even go 
to Uncle David Ross and be happy. 

At five minutes past seven Miss Power ar- 
rived. Susannah accompanied her across the 
Gardens. She had very old-fashioned ideas, 
and did not think it decorous for an aged 
gentlewoman to be abroad in the evening ex- 
cept in the company of her handmaiden. 

Miss Power entered the drawing-room, 
saluted the girls, and then sat down in a 
comfortable chair assigned to her. 

Well, Margaret,” she said, addressing the 
eldest Miss Ross, have Kitty and Betty told 
you about the little business we transacted 
together this morning ? ” 

“ No,” answered Margaret. “ They only 
said that they had taken a drive with you, 
Jessica.” 

^‘They are good girls,” said Miss Power, 
did not tell them to keep the thing a 
secret, but I respect them all the more for 
showing reticence. Well, my dear Maggie, 
the little secret is simply this : Before a 


120 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

week has passed over our heads I expect to be 
the owner of this house, with its furniture, 
china, plate, and linen. For goodness’ sake, 
Sibyl, child, don’t hold that costly teacup in 
so careless a fashion !' You’ll drop it, to a 
certainty. Kemember that cup will be mine 
before a week is out.” 

Sibyl did drop the cup without bi-eaking 
it. She made a rush forward, and kneeling 
by Miss Power, looked up with her eyes full 
of wonder at the good lady’s face. 

Jessica ! ” said Sibyl. Why did you 
do this ? You know you don’t want our 
house and our furniture ! Why did you buy 
them ? You see Maggie can’t speak. She 
is half stunned with your news. Tell me 
quickly why you have bought them, Jessica.” 

“ Softly, softly, little nineteen-year-old ! 
Well, if you must hold my hand, you must. 
The fact is 1 made up my mind to purchase 
this house for a great many reasons. One of 
them is that I hate houses of this sort, nicely 
decorated and nicely furnished, to go to the 
auctioneer’s hammer. They do not fetch 


OUT OF TBE FASHION. 121 

tlieir value, and— and— it’s hateful to see the 
furniture that you have a regard for, poked 
at, and pinched, and criticised by every fat 
vulgar woman who chooses to come and see it. 
I know liow I’d feel if my feather-beds were 
shaken up and looked into in that style. 
That Avas one reason why I thought I’d buy. 
I said to myself, ^ No. 80 will go cheap in any 
case, and if it’s a freehold I’ll have it.’ 
What’s the matter, Margaret ? ” 

Nothing, Jessica. I am only so thankful, 
and I know you have other reasons.” 

Well, child, of course I have. But don’t 
you suppose, you four girls, that all my 
reasons mil please you. They may or may 
not. There is one thing I am quite certain 
about — that they will astonish you. You 
may be a great deal too proud to concur 
with them. If you are, well, no harm is 
done. You can go your own ways, and No. 
80 is at least as well in my hands as in those 
of a total stranger. If you like my plan, 
you all of you have at least a home. Now, 
]ust stay quiet, and don’t fidget. Miss Sibyl. 


122 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


How can I speak when yon are squeezing 
niy hand in that fashion ? ” 

Kitty and Betty, who had stood a little 
aloof during the beginning of the conversa- 
tion, now drew near with their eyes and ears 
very wide open. It had not occuri'ed to them 
that Jessica’s purchase of 80 Rosemary 
Gardens would provide them with a home. 
It was good enough thinking of the dear old 
thing having the place, but this, what could 
this mean ? 

“ Get up, Sibyl, and don’t lean on Jessica 
in that fashion,” said Kitty. Now, Jessica, 
we are all listening. We are intensely anx- 
ious and excited.” 

Well, my loves, I have bought the house 
and all it contains for the reasons I have 
already stated. My further reason I now 
proceed to disclose. I am a wealthy woman, 
but I am not one of those who care to 
fling money away. I consider 80 Rosemary 
Gardens an excellent speculation, and, with 
proper management, I mean it to bring me in 
my seven or eight per cent. Margaret, my 


OUT OF THE FASHION, 


123 


dear, you are a careful, prudent, and wise girl 
for your years.” 

I am twenty-four, Jessica^” said Margaret. 
'' It is scarcely likely that I should not have 
experience.” 

That is it, my love ; you have exjierience. 
You have kept this house for four years.” 

Yes, Jessica.” 

^ You have managed the housekeeping ? ” 

^^Yes.” 

And the weekly books ? Oh, I know 
you have had difficulties, but your own ac- 
counts have been straightforward, have they 
not ? ” 

Perfectly.” 

Betty, you have a taste for figures. You 
ai*e a very accurate accountant.” 

“ O Jessica, you must not judge by that 
disordered slate which I left in your room.” 

“ My dear, it is not in disorder now. 
Susannah wiped it clean before I returned 
from my drive. Now, loves, I won’t keep 
you any longer in suspense. I mean to turn 
No. 80 into a boarding house.” 


124 OUT OF THE FASHION, 

Miss Power, having delivered this bomb- 
shell into the midst of the little party, lay 
back in her chair, folded her hands, and sat 
quite silent for a minute. At the end of 
that time she said : 

“No. 80 Kosemary Gardens is to be a 
boarding house. This is my unalterable 
decision. If you like, girls, I will go away 
now, and you can talk the matter out, and 
explode about it as much as you please. To- 
morrow morning I can return, and we can 
discuss the matter in all its bearings.'^ 

“ Please, Jessica, stay,” said Margaret. A 
glow of color had come into her very pale 
face, and her eyes had the misty look which 
show^s that tears are not far off. 

“Child,” said Miss Power. “Does this 
seem hard to you ? But my dear, my dear, 
good, honest, hard work will be the saving 
of you.” 

“I am not a bit afraid of work,” said 
Margaret. 

“Nor I, nor I,” said Kitty and Betty. 
Sibjd alone was silent. 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 125 

“For a long time,” said Miss Power, “ 1 
have had an ideal boarding house in my 
mind. It has seemed to me that cleanliness, 
and order, and refinement were not incom- 
patible with the term. Now, I want this to 
be an inexpensive boarding house, and I 
want lady-girls, who come up to London 
to work, to live here. I will make the 
thing pay, for nothing would induce me to 
consider it in any sense a charity, and you, 
Margaret, and Kitty shall be the heads. 
Either you or Kitty shall personally pui*chase 
every scrap of food that comes into the 
house. Either you or Kitty shall receive the 
visitors, shall superintend the servants, shall 
make yourself felt in every department of 
the establishment. Betty shall keep the ac- 
counts down to the lowest farthing, and once 
a week regularly I will audit these accounts 
myself. And Sibyl shall have the entertain- 
ment of everybody in her charge. To Sibyl 
the girls must look for cheerful and bright 
evenings, and Sibyl must look after the 
flowers, and the pretty things generally of 


126 our OF THE FASHION. 

the house. I, of course, provide all the 
money to keep the establishment going, and, 
of course, receive every penny of the profits. 
You .four girls, if you agree to my scheme, 
live here rent .free. You have no expense 
for food or lodging, and I will provide you 
each with a moderate salary in addition. If 
you dislike the idea of keeping a boarding 
house, I know two excellent sisters to whom 
I can give the posts, and we shall paid none 
the worse friends, I hope. My loves, you are 
not to say anything about what you think to- 
night. I am going home, for I am dead tired. 
I’ll call in at this same hour to-morrow, and 
you shall let me know what you have really 
decided.” 

Sibyl accompanied Miss Power downstairs. 
In the hall the old lady put her arm round 
the girl’s neck. 

So you are going to marry Mark Danby,” 
she said. 

“ I met him yesterday, and he asked me to 
marry him,” answered Sibyl. 

^‘Well, child, it seems to me wonderful 



so YOU ARE GOING TO MARRY MARK DANBY 





OUT OF THE FASHION. 127 

how any girl can love a man well enough to 
give herself up to him for life. You do, my 
dear, I can see that — God help you. It 
never was my way : I had my chances when 
I was young and bonny, but I could not see 
the force of that all-surrender business. And 
many a time since I have thanked my lucky 
star that 1 have remained Jessica Power.” 

“ Wish me happiness, Jessica,” said Sibyl, 
in an eager, half-petulant voice. 

“ Of course I do, my dear. God bless yon. 
There is Susannah coming up the steps. 
Good-night, Sibyl; Susannah, give me your 
arm.” 

“ Of all men in the Avorld I wouldn’t give 
myself absolutely to Mark Danby,” murmured 
Miss Power. Body and soul that child gives 
herself up to him. There is no saving her ; 
the deed is done. Well, the world will always 
be full of the worshiping sort of Avomen. 
They are the ruin of the men, but I suppose 
there is no help for them. They can’t be 
drowned like kittens when they are babies, 
and, as sure as they live to grow up, they 


128 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


worship. Their idols are all clay, and they 
suffer. Some are of baser stuff than others ; 
that’s the only difference. There’s nothing 
vicious in Mark, but he’s a bad sort for a 
girl to cling on to. He’s selfish, and weak, 
and he’s tied to his mother’s apron-strings.” 


CHAPTER XIL 


Ashton Manoe was really only a Manor in 
name. Tlie house was large, it is true, but 
there were no grounds to speak of. Ashton, 
a charming village in Surrey, was surrounded 
by many really beautiful gentlemen’s seats. 
The Manor was not beautiful. It was a gray 
old house, squarely and plainly built ; too old 
to boast of any modern conveniences, not old 
enough to be picturesque. The house, how- 
ever, was left to Lady Jane Danby by her 
father. She was a Marmaduke by birth, and 
as proud of her blue blood as a titled dame 
could be. She had married the Rev. Philip 
Danby, a clergyman of the Church of England, 
a man without any showy gifts. He was 
poor, and it is to be supposed that, as no 
woman ever lived who disliked poverty more 
than Lady Jane, she must have married him 
for love. He died, however, in the prime of 


130 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

his youth ; some people whispered, because 
Lady Jane’s tongue had been too much for 
him. He left a son and daughter to the care 
of their mother, and shortly afterward she 
went to live at Ashton Manor; 

Philippa was the name of the girl ; she took 
after her father: was handsome, frank, and 
outspoken. She was afraid of no one under 
the sun, and was in consequence a universal 
favorite. Mark was also a favorite, although 
not with equal cause. He had Philippa’s 
eyes without their frankness ; all Philippa’s 
passions were intensified in him, but self 
was not primary in Philippa, as it was in 
Mark. 

Lady J ane Danby was poor, in that refined 
sort of way which in no sense means prh^a- 
tion. The young people had their modest 
wants supplied. The Manor boasted of a 
well-kept table, and the domestic service was 
excellent. Philippa had even her own little 
pony carriage, and Mark his West End club. 
Mark was supposed to be reading for the bar 
just now. He went to town daily. He 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 131 

sometimes stayed there for weeks at a time 
with special chums of his own. 

It was Lady Jane’s nature to grumble, and 
the young people often wondered what for. 

On a certain July morning the three were 
seated at breakfast. It was Saturday, and 
Mark did not mean to go to town. Philippa, 
in a white dress, was pouring out coffee, and 
eagerly debating her chances in a tennis 
tournament which was to take place in one 
of their rich neighbors’ grounds that after- 
noon. Mark was fond of arguing with 
Philippa ; he was saying taunting things now 
in a lazy voice, and the young lady’s cheeks 
were flushing, and her eyes gleaming angrily. 

Lady Jane was absorbed in the contents of 
a letter which had just arrived by the morn- 
ing’s post. The same post had also brought 
Mark a letter, and Philippa noticed that he 
slipped it unopened into his pocket. She 
was curious about letters, and meant to get 
at the contents of this one presently. 

Now, raising her flushed face, she looked 
across the table at her mother. Lady Jane 


132 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

was not pleasant to beliold when she was 
cross, and she looked undoubtedly cross now. 

“ What’s up, mamsey ? ” inquired Philippa. 

Isn’t your news pleasant ? Who’s your 
correspondent ? ” 

“ Philippa, you know I don’t wish you to 
call me ^ mamsey.’ ” 

“ Well, mothery. Do say something nice 
to me, mothery. Mark is making himself so 
disagreeable.” 

Philippa’s frank impertinence generally 
won the day for her. 

“ You know, Phil, I would do anything I 
could for you, but really I am harassed. 
This letter is from Jessica Power. She 
won’t come.” 

“ Well, let her stay away.” 

My dear, that is all very fine, but you 
know I particularly wanted her to be with 
us next Saturday. The Vincents are coming, 
and your cousins Violet and Clarissa Marma- 
duke. Jessica is 4 host in herself on such 
occasions.” 

A power., you mean,” retorted Philippa. 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 133 

Mark rose, stretched kiaiself, and prepared 
to leave the room. 

“ If you are going in for anything in such 
awful form as bad puns, Phil, I will leave 
you and mother to discuss this question by 
yourselves,” he said. “ You will find me in 
the library, when you want me.” 

He shut the door behind him. The mo- 
ment he had done so. Lady Jane’s tone be- 
came very serious. 

“ Philippa,” she said, “ I am full of anx- 
ieties.” 

“ Oh, poor mothery ! ” 

The girl went up to her, put her arm 
round her neck, and tried to stroke out the 
furrows on her forehead. 

With all your heedless ways, Phil, you 
are a good child ; you would not add to my 
cares, I am sure. Philippa, it is most neces- 
sary to keep excellent friends with Jessica.” 

^^Well, mother, I thought we were ex- 
cellent friends with her.” 

Does it look like it when she refuses my 
invitation ? ” 


134 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


“ She may have her reasons.” 

Her reasoils ! for not being able to come 
to the country, from Saturday to Monday, an 
old maid with nothing to do.” 

Doesn’t she state some cause in her 
letter ? ” 

‘‘She says something about one of those 
mad schemes she is always taking up. She 
wants to give the last blow to the respectabil- 
ity of her present address. She tells me she 
has bought a house in Rosemary Gardens, 
and means to turn it into a boarding house.” 

“ A boarding house ? oh, delicious ! Will 
she manage it herself ? ” 

“ Philippa ! Whatever Jessica’s faults may 
be, she is a lady.” 

Philippa was silent. She had her own 
ideas of what constituted a lady, but there 
were prejudices in her mother’s soul which 
even she had not the courage to surmount. 
She skipped round this one now, and said, 
adroitly : 

“No doubt, mother. Miss Power will visit 
us another Saturday.” 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 135 

“ As if that would do any good, child ! I 
wanted her for next Saturday, for this day 
week.” 

Philippa was silent for a moment. 

wish, mamsey,” she said then, “that 
you would confide in me a little bit. AVhy 
do you want this queer, unique Jessica of 
yours to be here at the same time as my 
cousin Clarissa ? ” 

Lady Jane was too much interested in her 
subject to notice Philippa’s use of the objec- 
tionable term. 

“Because Jessica is rich,” she said; “enor- 
mously rich. It is good to let your cousins 
know that we are on the best of terms with 
one so wealthy, so eccentric, so benevolent. 
That is one reason. The second is this. Jes- 
sica always makes a pet of Mark. It will be 
good for his prospects with Clarissa, or, at 
any rate, with Clarissa’s father, that he 
should appear to be a favorite with Miss 
Power. Then, too, Jessica has great influ- 
ence over him. Men, my dear Philippa, are 
molded by women. Mark can be guided 


136 


OVT OF THE FASHION. 


iu the direction which will lead to the 
furtherance of niy plans.” 

Philippa was again silent for nearly a min- 
ute. Then she stooped down, and lightly 
pressed her mother’s forehead with her own 
full red lips. 

“ Thank goodness for one thing, mam- 
sey— ” 

Child, child — that obnoxious word 
again ” 

“ Oh, pshaw ! let it pass. I repeat, I am 
thankful for one thing — that you don’t make 
plans for me ; but you know better. Ta, ta ! 
now I am olf to Mark.” 

Philippa found her brother sauntering 
lazily up and down the path which led from 
the library to the shabb}^, little pretense of a 
tennis-court, of which the Manor alone could 
boast. He did not look up when the girl ap- 
proached. 

Hullo ! ” she called, in a gay, semi- 
boyish manner, “here I come with a bud- 
get of news. What will you give me 
for it?” 


OUT OF THE FASHION, 137 

'‘Nothing,” answered Mark. ‘‘I am 

worried ; I don’t want to hear any news.” 

" Well, let me slip my hand through your 
arm. You can listen or not as you please. I 
must unburden myself.” 

Mark made no reply. Philippa established 
her slim hand cosily, and began : 

" First of all, Jessica won’t come. Sec- 
ond, Jessica has bought a boarding house. 
Whether she will manage it or not personally 
is at present unknown. Mamsey, being pre- 
judiced, gives a decided o]3inion on that point, 
but the fact of her being prejudiced prevents 
her opinion from being of the smallest value. 
I incline to the belief that Jessica will be head 
of her own boarding house, and, if so, I mean 
to go there the next time I visit London. 
Why, what is the matter, Mark ? How jerky 
your arm is this morning ! You are most un- 
kind to my poor hand.” 

" I have told you that I am worried about 
things.” 

" And so is mother worried. What a good 
thing Philippa never is ! By the way, Marky, 


138 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

pet, who was that pretty little letter from 
this morning ? The one you slipped into your 
pocket — you remember.” 

Danby colored slightly. 

“ From one of my tradespeople,” he replied. 

“ 0 Mark ! Where do bad boys go ? I 
won’t ask you any more questions.” 

“ I wish you wouldn’t, Phil. I’ve got such 
a beastly headache I scarcely know what to 
do with myself.” 

“ I’m ever so sorry. If I were a model 
sister, I’d say that I’d like to bear it for you, 
but, as I’m not, I can’t make myself so agree- 
able. Good-by, Marky.” 

When Philippa was out of sight Dauby 
took the letter which had excited her curiosity 
once more out of his pocket. He read its 
contents eagerly, his eyes roving over the 
words as if he would devour them, and some- 
thing of that fierce, absolute sense of posses- 
sion coming into his face which had filled it 
when he looked at Sibyl in Rosemary Gardens. 
He was looking at her writing now. When 
he had read to the end of the closely-written 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 139 

pages, lie turned and went back to tlie library. 
He kept an old portfolio in a corner there, 
and a bottle of ink, and a few bad pens. He 
sat down witli liis back to the window, and 
began to reply to Sibyl’s letter. He was not 
at all a good letter-writer, and now so many 
conflicting emotions were agitating him that 
he had less control over his mode of expression 
than usual. 

He tore up several sheets of paper before he 
wrote a reply to his satisfaction. In the end 
the letter was very short, and only those who 
could read between the lines could make 
much out of it. 

I have got yours [wrote Mark]. I am astonished 
— frightened. What you propose is impossible. I 
will come on Monday at three. Leave the matter an 
open question until then. 

Yours 

Then followed a string of endearing names, 
and the letter was signed Sibyl’s devoted 
lover until death.” 


CHAPTEE XIII. 


Even deserted gardens have their uses; 
even weeds can grow apace without being all 
on the side of bad. The square of ground in 
the center of that other square which was 
known as Kosemary Gardens was certainly 
not a spot to be desired for any attractions 
of its own on a hot afternoon toward the 
end of July. In July no London trees 
look well ; the smuts have almost done 
their worst with them by that time; they 
look parched and shriveled ; in fact, the 
beautiful creatures are thickly coated with 
dirt. 

The tender green of most young vegetable 
life makes these same trees worth beholding 
early in May, but at the end of July all 
freshness has departed, and they are no 
longer pleasant to the sight. 

Even in May the square of ground in 
140 


OUT OF THE FASHIOK 141 

Rosemary Gardens was a poor place. In 
July it was positively hideous. 

Nevertheless this so-called garden” had 
its advantages, for those who went there 
were as sure of privacy as they would have 
been many miles from the haunts of men. 

About three o’clock on Monday afternoon 
Sibyl Ross went into the square garden to 
meet her lover. She had dressed herself 
with extreme care for the meeting ; her dress 
was of delicate pink cambric ; on her head 
she wore a large, picturesque, black lace hat. 
The hat had a buncli of pink roses in it. 

Sibyl was one of those girls who looked 
charming in pink. For some reason it toned 
with her own coloring, making her eyes look 
deeper and bluer, her complexion more 
peach-like in its bloom, her hair a ruddier 
gold than any other color wmuld. Pink 
made Sibyl look a veritable rosebud. She 
tripped across the ugly garden now, and in a 
moment she was in her lover’s arms. 

Dauby was really Sibyl’s lover. He cared 
for her with a fierce passion ; he wanted to 


142 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

have her, to hold her. Life without her 
seemed insuj^portable. Such a passion 
might or might not last, but, while it was 
paramount in such a turbulent, unruly spirit 
as animated Mark Danby’s breast, it was 
overmastering in its power. 

For a few minutes this pair of young 
lovers only looked at one another, too happy 
to be together to care to give utterance to 
any words. The ugly, deserted garden was 
to them as if all the flowers of Paradise grew 
there, and as if all the birds that sang to 
Adam were making music for their ears. 

Sibyl was the first to break the spell. 

O Mark,” she said, with a long, deep 
sigh, ‘‘ your letter gave me such a fright. I 
was miserable after I read it.” 

On hearing these words Mark pulled him- 
self together. He had not come into the 
square just to kiss Sibyl, and to hold her 
hand. He had a task to get through — not a 
pleasant one. 

want to talk to you very seriously,” he 
began. 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 143 

Oil, don’t, Mark ! your eyes quite 
frighten me.” 

'' Take my hand, Sibyl ; don’t look at my 
eyes. Listen to my words. Sibyl, I have 
not told my mother yet that we are en- 
gaged.” 

Oh ! ” 

Sibyl shrank a little away from Mark. 

“ I will, of course, my darling, and she’ll 
thank me for bringing her anything half as 
sweet as you. But just at present I know 
she has got all kinds of ideas in her head 
about me.” 

What ideas, Mark ? ” 

Sibyl no longer leant against Danby. She 
sat a little a^vay from him, the damask in her 
cheek’s growing deeper and deeper. 

^^Why, puss, you are not vexed?” said 
Mark. “ What are a mother’s ideas to a man 
who has given his whole heart to a lovely, 
bewitching little creature like you? My 
mother doesn’t know you, Sibyl.” 

But what are her ideas, Mark ? ” 

“ Oh, I can’t exactly tell you. I suppose 


144 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

she would like me to marry some hideous old 
thing with a lot of money. Not that she 
has ever said as much. But a fellow can see 
the way the wind blows.” 

^^Mariy the old thing then, Mark. Go 
away and marry her.” 

Sibyl had risen ; her lips were trembling, 
her eyes full of tears. She looked prettier 
than she had ever looked in her helpless, 
impotent, little rage, w^hich she knew in her 
heart of hearts she could only keep up for a 
moment or two. 

Mark drew her to him and kissed her 
again. 

“There, that is my only answer to you, 
Sibyl,” he said. “ But now I have a serious 
little matter to talk over with you. I am not 
going to tell my mother yet that we are en- 
gaged, but I will very soon. Sibyl, what 
ivas that rubbish you wrote to me about you 
and your sisters turning No. 80 into a board- 
ing house ? ” 

“ O Mark, don’t you like it ? We are 
ever so pleased and excited. It is dear Jes- 


145 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 

sica Power’s doing. She has bought the 
house and the furniture, and she will find the 
boarders, and the money to board them with. 
Maggie and Kitty are to housekeep, and 
Betty is to be accountant, and I, my dear sir,” 
here Sibyl dropped a bewitching courtesy, 
am to represent the ornamental member of 
the staff. I am to look as pretty as I can 
myself, and I am to keep the house sweet, 
and bright, and gay, and I am to enteidain 
the visitors.” 

Oh ! And hoAV will you entertain them, 
pray ? ” 

^AVhy, sing to them, and play to them, 
and tell gay little stories, and get up round 
games in the evening. Oh, there are hun- 
dreds of ways.” 

“ Doubtless,” replied Mark, in a gloomy 
voice. ‘‘ And some of the boarders ^vill be 
young men, 2:)erhaps? And you will play 
and sing for them* and look pretty for them, 
and keep the house gay and bright, and 
charming for their benefit ? ” 

“ No, Mark ; we are not going to have 


146 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

young men boarders. Jessica does not think 
that would do. The house is to be a board- 
ing house for girls — lady girls, who know 
how to act as ladies. And Jessica wishes it 
to be more than a boarding house. She 
wants it to be a home.” 

“ And you are to wear yourself to a skele- 
ton, keeping these maidens amused ? I 
should imagine that of all the trying occu- 
pations under the sun, women making end- 
less mirth for one another must be one of the 
worst.” 

^^But I daresay there’ll be lots of young 
men, too, for, of course, the girls must be 
allowed to see their friends at No. 80, and 
perhaps some of them, Mark, will be like 
you and like me. It will be very interesting 
to watch them.” 

“ Now look here, Sibyl. This thing can’t 
be. I have listened to you long enough. 
My darling, I don’t want to’ frighten you, but 
I cannot submit to the idea of the girl who 
is to be my wife wearing herself out as a 
common boarding-house drudge. For that 




OUT OF THE FASHION. Ul 

is wliat it amounts to. Sibyl, if I were to 
tell my mother that I had engaged myself to 
a girl who occupied herself in the manner 
you have just described, it would kill her; 
it really would. My mother is a proud 
woman, and she’d simply die of it. I daren’t 
run the risk. Sibyl, I’ve come here to-day 
to ask you to give it up.” 

“ But, Mark, we are poor. Dear Mark, be 
reasonable. Oh, I won’t be one scrap less a 
lady. Dear Mark, don’t look at me like 
that.” 

‘^Socially you will be no longer a lady, 
Sibyl.” 

Mark got up now, and absolutely turned 
his back. He walked a few paces aAvay and 
stood looking gloomily across the ugly 
garden, poking at the dusty, hard ground 
with the point of a little cane which he 
carried. 

How, had Sib3d one scrap of spirit, she 
would have stolen away at that moment, and 
given Mark Dan by up there and then. But, 
instead of doing this, the poor little soul sat 


148 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

crouched up iu a corner of the rickety old 
bench, her eyes growing very big and 
frightened, and her lips very piteous. 

Mark was saying most detestable things ; 
all the best part in her nature cried out 
against him — and yet — and yet — still he was 
her idol — her king, and the king could do no 
wrong. Oh, she hated him ! How could he 
be so mean as to tell her she would not be a 
lady because she earned her bread honestly ? 
But oh, again, she could not hate him ; for he 
was her very own Mark, to whom she had 
given herself absolutely and forever. 

She raised her eyes timidly, and looked 
at the back of her hero. Mark had those 
square shoulders and that well-knit figure 
which young Britishers adore. Sibyl could 
not help a small, comforting glow of pride 
stealing back into her heart, as she reflected 
that those shoulders and that adorable form 
belonged to her own acknowledged lover. 
In a blind little rush and tempest of feeling 
she had left the rickety bench, and stood iu 
front of Mark. 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 149 

“ I don’t agree with you,” she said. “ My 
ideas and yours are altogether at issue. You 
asked me to marry you some days ago, and 
then you knew that my father had fled from 
the country in dishonor. But you loved me, 
and you wanted me for myself. When you 
knew what my father did I could scarcely 
have blamed you, Mark, if you had never 
come back to me. When you did come, I 
thought what a prince among men you were. 
Do you know, Mark, that for years — for at 
least two years, we lived in that fine house 
over thei-e on the charity of our tradespeople ? 
We were clothed by them, and fed by them, 
and we* did not pay them. I doubt if they 
will ever be paid anything beyond a very 
small percentage. Of course we girls did 
not do it knowingly; still the fact remains 
that we did it. When you engaged your- 
self to me last week, Mark, did it enter 
into your head that you were going to 
marry a sfirl who had ceased to be a 
lady 3” 

“That is stuff!” responded Danby. 


150 OVT OF THE FASHION. 

“ Your father is not the first man who has 
failed : you talk like a child.” 

“I don’t. I talk like an honorable woman. 
I don’t think I was a lady during those years 
when I lived on what did not belong to me ; 
but I think Avhen I help to take care of Jessica’s 
boarding house that I shall be the real kind 
of honorable lady that God meant me to be.” 

Danby looked into Sibyl’s eyes. They 
were always sweet in their expression. Now 
the suffering soul which filled them brought 
a light into their depths before which his 
own fell. 

“ Look here,” he said, after a pause, in which 
he had the grace to feel ashamed of himself, 
“I can’t argue with you. Sib. You may be 
right, but the world doesn’t look at things 
in that way, and the fact is you must give up 
taking any share in that boarding house if you 
intend to become engaged to me.” 

But, Mai*k, how am I to earn my bread ? ” 

“ Has not your uncle, Mr. Boss, offered you 
a home ? ” 

O Mark ! ” 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 151 

“ My darling, I want you to go there for a 
little. Not for long, for we must be married 
soon. Of that I am determined. I come in- 
to a little bit of property when I am twenty- 
live, and if nothing better offers we can start 
housekeeping on that, only you must not have 
part or lot in the boarding house scheme. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


It took Margaret Ross and her sisters 
twenty-four hours to think over Miss Power’s 
scheme. At the end of that time they ac- 
cepted their own lot in the matter. They 
did this with a little doubt and a certain 
amount of hesitation. They did not say to 
themselves ^AVe are going down irretrievably 
in the social scale,” but nevertheless they 
felt it, and they took the plunge as one gets 
into a cold bath — with a little reluctance. 

Then came the reaction. They had done 
right, and their spirits began to glow; their 
consciences smiled on them, and an easy con- 
science is seldom unaccompanied by happi- 
ness. Day after day they liked the scheme 
of the boarding house better and better ; the 
social descent was forgotten in the interest 
of the work itself. A great burden of care 
seemed to have been lifted from four pairs of 
152 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 153 

young shoulders, and the girls could laugh 
merrily, and be so cheerful that censorious 
neighbors pronounced them heartless. 

By the way, it is wonderful how good peo- 
ple preach contentment and resignation in 
the midst of affliction, and then glare at the 
afflicted one if he or she happens to wear a 
smiling face. Heartless ” the victim is in- 
stantly designated. 

Now the four Boss girls were spoken of as 
destitute of feeling by a good many of the 
inhabitants of Rosemary Gardens just then; 
but, as they did not care what the neighbors 
thought, this fact did not trouble them. 

Finding her scheme was working so admir- 
ably, Miss Power threw herself into it heart 
and soul. She, Margaret, and Kitty spent 
many long mornings together. The linen- 
room was overhauled, the china presses were 
examined, the contents of the glass cupboard 
turned out. Then came delightful expedi- 
tions to different noted shops, where the di- 
minished stores could be replenished, and the 
house put into apple-pie order. 


154 OUT OU THE FASHiOH. 

Miss Power intended the boarding house 
to be ready for occupation on the first of 
September, and the girls had just a month to 
make all their preparations. Maggie once 
asked rather wonderingly, ‘‘ Suppose no 
boarders come ? ” but Miss Power’s dark eyes 
fairly ran over with merriment on hearing 
this. 

Oh, my love,’’ she said, “ the house mil 
be full, from attic to cellar. You leave that 
part of the business to me, my dear girls.” 

The first cloud which darkened the sun- 
shine of the boarding-house idea came from 
Sibyl. The other girls were perhaps too 
busy to notice that little nineteen-year-old 
looked grave when they laughed ; that, when 
she did smile and joke, the mirth was of 
rather a forced character. The best girls 
will be selfish in that sort of way when they 
are very much occupied, and, had any of 
them guessed how sore poor Sibyl’s Avarm 
heart felt, they Avould have cried by the hour 
Avith her out of sympathy. 

Since her intervieAV Avith Mark, Sibyl had, 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 155 

however, managed to elude suspicion, but at 
last the day came when she felt she must in- 
flict a cruel blow both on herself and her 
sisters. 

The morning post brought a letter from 
Uncle David E-oss. It was a thick letter en- 
cased in a square envelope. The front of 
the envelope was addressed to 

Miss Sibyl Ross, 

80 Rosemary Gardens. 

The back had Siiortlands ” printed in 
large, ugly capitals across its flap. There 
was the Yorkshire postmark as well : no one 
could for an instant mistake the letter. 

Sibyl turned pink and then white when 
she received it. 

Good gracious ! ” exclaimed Kitty. That 
letter is from poor old Uncle David. AVhat a 
shame ! We have been so busy we never 
wrote to the poor old boy to tell him of our 
change of plans.” 

^^Well, you need not talk of him in that 
disrespectful way as an old boy,” answered 


156 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


Betty. “ I can tell you, lie would be angiy 
if lie heard you, Kit.” 

What care I ? ” responded Kitty. Mag- 
gie, please pass me the toast ; I’m regularly 
famished. Thanks to Jessica, the old dear 
can’t do us much harm now, and I’m free to 
speak of him as I please. Oh ! shall I ever 
forget the way he sat and looked round the 
drawing-room that awful morning he in- 
tended to crush us ? He’d have done it, 
too, if it hadn’t been for that darling 
Jessica.” 

Sibyl, dear, why don’t you open your 
letter ? ” asked Margaret. She looked 
kindly at her younger sister, and noticed for 
the first time that she was only playing 
with her breakfast. 

“ That letter contains a check,” said Kitty. 

A check for your second-class fare to 
Shortlands, Sib. You’ll have to send it back 
to-day. Be sure you write a pretty note of 
thanks with it.” 

To the astonishment of the other three 
Sibyl’s reply to this innocent speech was a 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 157 

burst of tears, a rusb across tbe room, and an 
absolute collapse into Maggie’s outstretched 
arms. 

“ What is it ? ” exclaimed Kitty and 
Betty. “ What is wrong ! ” 

Hush,” replied Maggie. The child has 
a trouble on her. She would not sob like 
this for nothing. Would you like to be 
alone with me, Sibyl darling ? Shall we go 
into my little study ? ” 

^^For goodness sake, don’t leave us out of 
it ? ” said Betty. Aren’t we all sisters, and 
doesn’t Sib know that we’d half-kill anyone 
who was unkind to her. There, Sib, you 
don’t mind my kneeling here and rubbing 
your cold, shaking hand, do you ? ” 

And you always did say that Kitty’s 
touch made your headache go away. You 
don’t want poor Kit not to touch your gold 
locks, Sib ? ” said Kitty. 

“ I love her to toucli them ! ” said Sibyl, 
speaking with sudden passion. Your hand 
is darling, Betty, and Maggie, oh, Maggie — 
what the feel of your arm is to me ! But I 


158 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

must go away, I must ; I must go and live 
with Uncle David Eoss.” 

You must go and live with Uncle David 
Eoss ? ” almost screamed Kitty, Avho was of 
a very excitable temperament. Have you 
gone 1‘ight out of your mind, Sibyl ? Why, 
you are to stay here, and be the ornament of 
the boarding house, and Jessica is to pay you 
forty pounds a year. What are you talking 
in that wild fashion for ? ” 

“I must go to Uncle David,” said Sibyl. 

It isn’t wild, it’s true ; I must keep that 
check, and I must go to Shortlands. I must 
be Muriel’s companion. You can’t shake me, 
any of you ; I have promised, and I must do 
it.” 

“Who have you made this promise to, 
darling ? ” asked Margaret. 

“ To — to — Mark.” 

“ Oh!” 

Betty left oft* stroking Sibyl’s hand, and 
Kitty no longer touched her head ; Margaret’s 
arms, however, remained as firmly round her 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 159 

slight waist as ever, and it was to Margaret 
she now spoke. 

“You know, Maggie, I must do what 
Mark wishes.” 

“ When you are married to him, perhaps,” 
muttered Betty. 

“ If you marry him ! ” exclaimed Kitty. 

“I must do what Mark wishes,” repeated 
Sibyl, in a dreary tone. Then, seeing the 
mocking smile on Betty’s face, her cheeks 
flushed and her eyes glowed. She drew her- 
self away from Margaret, and stood erect. 

“ I love to do what Mark wishes ! I dare 
anyone to prevent me.” 

“ Oh, good gracious ! ” exclaimed Betty. 

“ Tell us what you mean, dear,” said Mar- 
garet, trying to take the excited girl’s hand. 

“I mean this,” answered Sibyl. “I told 
Mark about the boarding house, and he — he 
was shocked. And he — he said — I should 
not be a lady if I did what I — I meant to do. 
I shouldn’t be a lady socially. Mark said I 
must go and live with Uncle David, and I — 


160 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

I promised him. Mind, girls, I don’t agree 
with him, but I promised him ; I must and I 
will obey him, for I love him better than all 
the rest of the world ! ” 

^^Well?” exclaimed Kitty, after that, 
Sibyl, I have only one thing to say, and that 
is, I’m thankful on my own account ! ” 

“ What do you mean, Kitty ? ” 

That I’ve not been blessed with a Mark 
to obey. Come along, Betty, there’s no use 
in our wasting words here. I am sorry for 
you, Sibyl ; I would not be in your shoes for 
a good deal.” 

Later in that same morning, Sibyl, with red 
rings round her eyes, wrote to Mr. David 
Boss, acknowledging his check, and naming 
the day and hour when slie would arrive at 
Shortlands. When she had finished the first 
letter she wrote a second. The second was to 
Mark. In this she gave him her new address, 
for she was to go to Shortlands in a couple of 
days’ time. In the second letter, too, she was 
very careful to suppress all her real feeling. 
She did not allow a murmuring word to escape 


OUT OF THE FASIIIOH. 161 

her, and took infinite pains to make the dreary 
future which lay at her door appear as bright 
as possible to the man she loved. 

In a short postscript she did, however, allow 
her suffering little heart to give utterance to 
one wail. 

“O Mark! write to me as often as ever 
you can,” said this simple postscript. 

Danby got this letter as usual at breakfast- 
time. He slipped it into his pocket unopened, 
and read it afterward at his leasure. He 
thought the letter dull, not to say stupid : 
Sibyl’s old SAveet self did not rise before him 
in a series of little pictures as he read. He 
Avondered why the letter lacked freshness ; he 
tried reading it over tAvice, and the second 
time he yaAvned as he perused it. . 

At this very moment poor Sibyl’s numerous 
small possessions Avere being packed aAvay in 
one or two large trunks, which Avere to accom- 
pany her to Shortlands. The next morning 
early the other sisters in a body Avent Avith her 
to Euston, and found a dull old lady Avho did 
not object to being the pretty girl’s escort to 


162 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


Yorkshire. There were some kisses ex- 
changed, and some very hard squeezes of the 
hand, and then the train slowly puffed out of 
the great station, and the three girls, who were 
to conduct Miss Power’s boarding house in 
Eosemary Gardens, went slowly home. They 
felt very subdued and sad without little nine- 
teen-year-old, and even Kitty could not be flip- 
pant for an hour or two. In the course of 
the morning, however, she was seen to hug 
herself ecstatically more than once. 

Oh, thank goodness I’m not engaged,” she 
said. On the last occasion she made this re- 
mark she was in the linen room counting the 
new pillow-cases, and Miss Power happened to 
be not far away. 

‘^Come here, Katharine, and let me kiss 
you,” said the old lady. “Them’s my senti- 
ments. But all the same, my love, I expect 
you will sing another song before the year is 
out. I never met the girl yet who did not 
v/ant to be wooed and married and a’ ” 

“This girl is an exception,” said Kitty. 
“ She has Sibyl as a warning.” 


CHAPTER XV. 


Sibyl had to change trains at York. She 
waited there for half-an-hour, and then 
traveled by a very slow local train to a 
small station about three miles away from 
Shortlands. She was the only passenger 
who alighted at this station. A girl in a 
brown holland dress was walking slowly up 
and down on the platform when the train 
crept into view. She was a slightly-made 
girl, with light-brown hair, and light-gray 
eyes. Her features were thin and sharp, her 
face pale. On her head she wore a brown 
hat, trimmed simply with a band of its own 
color. A more quiet, expressionless little 
figure could scarce!}^ be imagined. 

Sibyl opened the door of her second-class 
carriage, sprang lightly to the ground, and 
ran to meet her. 

“You are my cousin, Muriel?” she said. 

163 


164 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


Yes ; had you not better see about your 
luggage ? The train will not stay here a mo- 
ment.” 

Oh, good gracious ! ” replied Sibyl, and 
I have left no end of things in the car- 
riage.” 

Miss Eoss flew back again like lightning ; 
she was all animation and brightness and 
color beside the other girl in her drab 
clothes. 

‘^Come and help me get my things out,” 
said Sibyl. 

Muriel stood on the platform. Sibyl 
mounted into the carriage, which she had 
traveled in alone, and began pulling railway- 
rugs, a luncheon-basket, a traveling bag, and 
parcel of umbrellas and parasols, along with 
sundry books and newspapers out of the 
wire cage which ran along the top of the 
compartment. These she tossed into Muriel’s 
arms, and jumped out herself just as the train 
began to move. 

“ Is there no porter about ! ” she asked. 

“Oh, yes, old Williams. He is seeing 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 165 

about your luggage. Have you many boxes ? 
AVbat a lot of loose things you have traveled 
with ! 

“ Do you call those many ? ” asked Sibyl. 

I wish you could see Kitty when she is on a 
journey ! ” 

Muriel made no response whatever to this. 
She turned, so that her companion could see 
her in profile (Muriel’s profile was even less 
attractive than her full face), and waited un- 
til Williams, the old porter, appeared, pushing 
Sibyl’s trunks before him on a barrow. 

AVilliams panted as he walked, and Muriel 
went gravely up to him, and began an earnest 
colloquy. 

Sibyl stood a few paces behind, holding all 
her loose possessions. 

Muriel has never said she is glad to see 
me ; she has not even said, ^ How do you do ? 
she murmured. Sibyl bit her lips and tried 
to keep the tears back. In a moment Muriel 
returned. 

I am sorry,” she said, in her grave, thin, 
uninteresting voice, “ but it will be impossible 


166 OUT OF THE FASHIOK 

to have your trunks conveyed to Sliortlands 
to-day.” 

But I really must have some clothes,” be- 
gan Sibyl, aghast. 

I am sorry,” repeated Muriel ; “ but your 
trunks are so unusally large that they cannot 
go on the carriage, even though mother did 
send the brougham with the rail round on 
purpose. The carrier must bring your trunks. 
There is no other method.” 

“ Well, can he bring them to-day ?” 

I don’t think so, but I can inquire.” 

Muriel returned to consult with old Wil- 
liams ; she came back in a moment. 

“Williams says that Dawson, the carrier, 
only calls here once a week; his day is Fri- 
day. He will bring your trunks to Short- 
lands on Friday. His charge will be half-a- 
crown, but you can pay on delivery. I am 
sorry, but there is no help for it. Will you 
come now ? I must not keep the horses wait- 
ing any longer.” 

Sibyl felt herself growing very angry. 

“ This is Wednesday,” she said, “ and I am 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 167 

to do without any of my property till Friday 
evening ? ” 

I did not say ^ evening’ — the carrier may 
be able to bring your trunks in the after- 
noon.” 

“ Afternoon, or evening, what does it sig- 
nify ? Am I to do without even a pair of 
slippers to put on until whenever the carrier 
arrives ? You must be reasonable, Muriel, 
and, if my trunks cannot possibly be conveyed 
to,Shortlands sooner than Friday, you must 
at least allow me to open one of them, and 
take out a few necessary articles I shall re- 
quire.” 

Muriel looked dubious over this. Open- 
ing trunks at a railway station was not in 
her experience of life. She was a girl who 
was not fond of new sensations ; she de- 
murred a little, but in the end consented 
to accompany her cousin ioto a kind of shed, 
where the trunks were deposited by 
Williams, who stood by without offering any 
assistance while Sibyl unlocked one, and 
took out in a hurry those clothes she could 


168 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


least well do without. Muriel also stood by 
without helping. 

“Will you follow me to the carriage 
now ? ” she said in her even tone, when Sibyl 
had supplied herself sufficiently. 

As they stepped into the comfortable, well- 
appointed brougham, Muriel touched Sibyl 
on her knee. 

“You had better give Williams a shil- 
ling ? ” she said. “ He has taken a good deal 
of trouble.” ^ 

“ In what way, I wonder,” thought Sibyl 
to herself ; but she dropped the coin into the 
old man’s horny palm without a protest. 

The drive to Shortlands was up one dusty 
hill and down another. A high wind was 
blowing, and the dust penetrated through 
the crevices of the closed brougham. It was 
hot and close inside, and the choking dust 
made Sibyl sneeze once or twice. 

“ Don’t you think we might have one of 
the windows opened a tiny way ? ” she ven- 
tured at last to expostulate. 

“I am sorry to disoblige you,” answered 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 169 

Muriel, “ but luotber never likes me to sit in 
a draught. I am not strong.” 

Sibyl leant wearily back against the 
cushions. 

Muriel,” she said suddenly, when the 
dust and the heat and the stuffiness had be- 
come unendurable, “ aren’t you going to ask 
me any questions at all ? 

“Well,” answered Muriel, calmly, “I don’t 
know that I want to begin just now.” 

“Why?” asked Sibyl, in surprise. 

“ You are going to stay a long time with 
us — to live with us. There will be heaps of 
time to ask you questions.” 

“ How calm you are ? ” said Sibyl. She 
longed to add, “How cold, how horrid, how 
maddening ? ” but she refrained. 

“ May I ask you questions instead ? ” she 
asked. 

“ If you like.” 

“ What do you do Avith yourself all day at 
Shortlands ? ” 

“ What do I do with myself all day ? ” re- 
peated Muriel, sloAvly. “ It would take me a 


170 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

long time to answer that question, Sibyl. I 
do so many things.” 

^^Yes, yes — well, when you want to amuse 
yourself, I mean. You give up some part of 
the day to amusement, don’t you ? ” 

A little time, now and then, perhaps.” 
What do you do in the little time ? ” 

If it is wet, I sit in the drawing room, and 
read aloud to mother. I am reading ^Ali- 
son’s History of Europe’ to her now. Do 
you know it ? It is in twenty volumes ! ” 
Good gracious ! no, I don’t.” 

I don’t think mother will like to hear 
you say ^ Good gracious,’ Sibyl. It is kinder 
perhaps for me to tell you at once that 
mother has the greatest horror of all exag- 
gerated expressions. She has taught me 
never to say a single word more than I 
mean.” 

I am sure you never do that,” said Sibyl, 
with fervor. 

“No; I hope I never do. Shall I tell you 
more about my amusements ? On line days 
I botanize with mother ; or if she is occupied 


OVT OF THE FASHION. 171 

witli her ^Vaif and Stray Society I dig in my 
own little garden. Are you fond of garden- 
ing, Sibyl ? Don’t you think it is interesting 
to watch the growth of Nature even in the 
smallest plants ? ” 

Look here,” said Sibyl, ungratefully, I’m 
a town girl, and I don’t know anything 
about country pursuits. I don’t want to 
garden, nor to study botany, nor to read 
history aloud to your mother. Please let 
me walk up this hill, Muriel, for, if I 
don’t get some air immediately, I shall 
suffocate.” 

Muriel glanced around at Sibyl. 

You look hot,” she said; “that is because 
you have excited yourself. There was no oc- 
casion. I don’t want you to Join in my 
pleasures ; never expected you to like them.” 

Then she pulled the check-string. The 
carriage drew up, and Sibyl got out. She 
almost ran up the hill, she walked so fast. 
She got the air into her lungs again, and a 
gleam of hope stole back into her heart. At 
the top of the hill was a stile, and at the 


172 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


other side of the stile a narrow, golden-yel- 
low path wandered in a diverse ribbon fash- 
ion across a moor ; the moor was covered 
with bracken, and the bracken was showing 
brown and yellow in patches. 

Sibyl’s eyes began to dance at this sight, 
and her heart to move more quickly in her 
breast. 

When the brougham appeared on the sum- 
mit of the hill she ran up to the carriage 
window. 

Muriel, where does that lovely path 
lead?” 

What lovely path ? ” 

“ That one at the other end of the stile.” 

It leads home — to Shortlands.” 

“ Then I will go that way. Good-by. Oh, 
someone is sure to tell me how to get to your 
place.” 

Before Muriel could expostulate, Sibyl 
was over the stile, and flying down the path, 
rendered yellow by the evening sun. 

Nearly an hour later a disheveled-looking, 
untidy girl was ushered by the gray-haired 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 173 

old butler into the drawing room at Short- 
lands. 

^^Oh, I am so sorry, Uncle David,” began 
Sibyl at once. She walked up to her uncle, 
wdio was standing on the hearthrug. “ I 
lost my way on the moor, but it was so ex- 
quisite, and I found these flowers. May I 
give them to you. Aunt Matilda ? ” 

Mrs. Ross was a very large edition of 
Muriel; Mrs. Ross was Muriel stout and 
middle-aged. She looked at her husband, 
took no notice whatever of the flowers, but 
walked two or three steps down the room to 
meet Sibyl. 

^‘How do you do, Sibyl?” she said; and 
she pushed her pale cheek forward for Sibyl 
to kiss. 

“ How do you do, Sibyl ? ” said her uncle. 

Sibyl looked round for Muriel. She was 
standing at a little distance, pouring weak 
tea into cups of rare old china. 

Sibyl,” said her uncle, “we will say 
nothing about it on this occasion, but it is 
against the rules of Shortlands for any girl 


174 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


who happens to be here to venture on the 
moors alone. You will remember that in 
future, my dear. Matilda, shall I ring the 
bell ? ” 

Thank you, David,” responded Mrs. 
Eoss. 

The bell was rung, and in a moment the 
old servant appeared. 

J onathan,” said Mrs. Eoss, “ take that 
rubbish out of the room.” 

The rubbish consisted of Sibyl’s flowers. 


CHAPTER XVI. 

Shortlands was a large, square-built 
bouse; it bad a wide entrance ball in tbe 
middle, and square sitting rooms to right and 
left. There was tbe drawing room and tbe 
morning room at one side of tbe ball, and at 
tbe other tbe dining room and tbe library. 
Tbe kitchens were underneath in a great, 
well-drained basement. Mr. and Mrs. 
Ross thought basements were wholesome, 
and, notwithstanding tbe abundance of 
ground-room, preferred having their dinners 
cooked under their sitting rooms. Upstairs 
on tbe first floor were large, solidly-furnished 
bedrooms. On tbe second floor were more 
bedrooms, less solidly furnished, and above 
these were the servants’ comfortable attics. 

There was not an unexpected angle or 
corner anywhere at Shortlands. The house 
was built for utility, for service, for a calm 
175 


176 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

and well-ordered life. In tMs house Muriel 
had been born. She had been brought up in 
it, educated, partly by her mother, and 
partly by a governess of the old school. 
Muriel had responded to the pains bestowed 
upon her in the kindest way ; she had been 
brought up in grooves, and her whole nature 
now fitted nicely into the space allotted to it. 
There was no room for outward growth in 
Muriel’s grooves ; but then she did not wish 
to grow. 

Sibyl thought that she had never seen any 
one quite so strange and incomprehensible as 
Mmlel. What Muriel thought about her 
London cousin was not revealed. 

After tea the girls went upstairs to the 
second floor, where Muriel showed Sibyl the 
neat, square bedroom which she was to occupy ; 
the bedroom was clothed in drab. In itself 
it was essentially ugly, but its windows com- 
manded a view of the moor across which Sibyl 
had walked. 

The sun was more slanting now than it had 
been an hour and a half ago, and there was a 


OUT OF THE FASHION. . 17 ^ 

greater glory of color lying across the 
bracken and the heather. Sibyl’s spirits had 
been down to zero^ until Muriel opened the 
door of her bedroom, and revealed this view 
to her through its windows. The color and 
brightness rushed back to her eyes at the 
sight ; her cheeks became rosy red ; she 
clasped her cousin’s hand. 

“O Muriel, how exquisite! Do come and 
look ! ” she exclaimed. 

At what ? ” asked Muriel. 

“The view, the sunset — the color on the 
moor ! Do, do come and look at it.” 

“You are from London,” said Muriel, “and 
father tells me you never see sunsets there. 
You will be accustomed to this in a few days.” 

She twisted her hands out of Sibyl’s, and 
stood on the hearthrug, looking round the 
chamber. Sibyl perched herself on the 
window-ledge, pressed her face against the 
glass and gazed out. After a time she gave 
utterance to a deep, long, satisfied sigh, sprang 
lightly to the ground, and, running impulsively 
up to Muriel, kissed her. 


178 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


“ Thank you for giving me this lovely, 
lovely room,” she said. 

I wish you would not exaggerate,” replied 
Muriel. This is not at all a lovely room : it 
is plain and neat. Mother says a bedroom 
should never be more. Please just listen to me 
a moment, Sibyl, while I tell you about the ar- 
rangements. When your trunks come you 
can hang your dresses in this wardrobe ; your 
linen and smaller articles will go into that 
chest of drawers in the corner. This deep 
cupboard, you see, holds your bath, and there 
is a shelf above for your boots and shoes. 
Mother will like us both to keep our rooms 
very tidy. Now I think I will leave you for 
a little ; we dine at seven o’clock. The dress- 
ing bell rings at twenty minutes to seven, and 
we assemble in the drawing room at five 
minutes to the dinner hour. Good-by for 
the present, Sibyl.” 

Muriel walked out of the room without 
waiting for her cousin’s response. The mo- 
ment she had gone Sibyl rushed to the door 
to lock it: there was no key in the lock. 


OUT OF THE F ASHTON. 170 

Slie looked around her half desperately. At 
that moment she would have thought very 
little of dragging the chest of drawers across 
the room to barricade the door, and so secure 
her privacy. She refrained from doing this ; 
but she did not refrain from dancing madly 
on the floor, and pushing her hands through 
her hair, and even pinching one hand with 
the other. 

“ Prison would be better ! ” she said at last. 
“ O Mark, Mark ! what am I not giving up 
for your sake ? ” 

The though of Mark soothed and even 
calmed her. Sibyl was the sort of girl who 
would sacrifice much for the man she loved 
— who would glory in her sacrifice, and, up to 
a certain point, enjoy it. She ceased to dance 
on the floor, and, going to the window, 
opened it wide, and leant half out. 

The breeze, which had blown dust into her 
eyes as she and Muriel drove together in the 
brougham, now brought strength and refresh- 
ment. The first gong sounded ; she put in 
her head, and turned to the dressing-table to 


180 OUT OF THE FASHION, 

make what toilet she could. She was deter- 
mined now to be brave, to make the best of 
things, and to look as pretty as she possibly 
could for Maik’s sake. To-night she had no 
dinner dress to put on, but she could make 
her wavy golden hair as flutfy, as soft, as 
picturesque as hair could look. Sibyl had 
never descended to the adoption of an abso- 
lute frioge, but she had short locks curling 
here and there on her temples, and wavy 
tendrils of those bright threads of gold 
would get loose from their pins, and fall 
about her neck, and nestle round her ears. 

Kitty and Betty thought nothing more 
beautiful than Sibyl’s head when she had 
tossed it into order, as they expressed it, with 
a pitchfork. 

To-night the tossed condition had even a 
daring appearance : it seemed so out of keep- 
ing with the neatness and composure of Short- 
lands. 

But Sibyl had no adornment for this first 
dinner but her bright hair, and she was deter- 
mined to make the most of it. 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 181 

When the second gong sounded Muriel 
knocked at her door; Muriel’s little head 
looked as if it were clothed in satin. Her 
light-brown, thick hair was parted in front, 
and plaited in a tight mass round the back 
of her head. Not a hair dared to displace 
itself; all was neatness and order. Muriel 
wore a brown check silk dress ; beside Sibyl 
she looked the most modest of maidens. 

The girls went down to the drawing room 
without uttering a word. When they 
entered the room they found Mr. and Mrs. 
Ross standing together on the hearthrug 
talking to a young clergyman, who was pres- 
ently introduced to Sibyl as Mr. Purcell. 

“ Mr. Purcell is our new curate,” whispered 
Muriel ; you will hear him preach on Sun- 
day. Mother takes the greatest comfort in 
his ministrations.” 

It was Sibyl’s turn now to make no re- 
sponse. She went over to the window, and 
gave a faint, impatient sigh when she dis- 
covered that no window in the drawing room 
looked over the moor. Dinner was an- 


182 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

nounced, and the family migrated into the 
dining room. Sibyl found herself opposite 
to Muriel and Mr. Purcell. She could not 
help observing that Mr. Purcell’s dull, gray 
eyes traveled very often in her direction 
during the meal. They seemed, as far as 
she could gather, to wear an approving and 
even delighted expression. This was some 
sort of comfort, for Mr. and Mrs. Ross also 
looked at her constantly, and their eyes ex- 
pressed the reverse of approval or delight. 

Mr. Ross, while he ate his soup, kept his 
large, prominent eyes so determinately fixed 
upon the top of her head that she began to 
wonder if a hair-pin had suddenly taken 
upon itself to stand up straight. 

After dinner Mrs. Ross called Sibyl to her 
side. 

“ My dear,” she said, I will ask Muriel to 
bring you a little bandoline to-night, and will 
request you to brush some on your hair. 
Neither your uncle nor I can permit you to 
sit at table again the show you were this 
evening.” 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 183 

Show ? ” said Sibyl. But my hair is 
naturally frizzy, and no girls have smooth 
heads now.” 

Excuse me, modest girls will always have 
smooth heads. We won’t discuss this matter 
any further. Muriel, you might get the 
^ History ’ and ^ Smith’s Commentary’ ready. 
Mr Purcell has promised to expound the 
early history of the first century with the aid 
of the commentary this evening. Have you 
got any needlework to do, Sibyl ? ” 

^^No,” said Sibyl; don’t work much, 
and anyhow my trunks are at the station.” 

‘^Then, my dear, you can help me this 
evening. Muriel, fetch the Waif and Stray 
basket.” 

Half an hour later Sibyl found herself 
seated at a good distance from the lamp, 
struggling over the intricacies of an old 
woman’s bedgown. Mrs. Boss was knitting 
something hideous, which she called a Hug- 
me-tight.” Muriel’s fair, shining head was 
bent over a cambric handkerchief which she 
was embroidering; Mr. Boss sat in his arm- 


184 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


chair and went to sleep, and Mr. Purcell, 
with the lamplight revealing all the plain- 
ness of his features, read history aloud. He 
read in a very correct, monotonous voice, 
rounding his periods nicely, and availing him- 
self of every stop. As he read, Sibyl threw 
down her bedgown and watched him. 

“ How comical it all is ! ” she said to her- 
self, and her eyes grew brimful of mirth and 
her lips quivered. 

The electricity of her gaze communicated 
itself to the reader. His voice faltered; he 
raised his eyes, glanced at her — a warm, de- 
lightful feeling filled his breast, and a pink 
blush overspread his features. 

Sibyl resumed her needlework, and for the 
first time Mr. Purcell found Shortlands inter- 
esting. 


CHAPTEE XVII. 

The best-laid plans sometimes come to 
nothing, and Lady Jane Dan by, whose prin- 
cipal object in life just now was to secure a 
suitable wife for her son Mark, was doomed 
to see the summer glide into autumn, and 
even the first tokens of early winter set in be- 
fore she saw any likelihood of having her 
plans fulfilled. 

Clarissa and Violet Marmaduke were the 
daughters of Lady Jane’s brother; not her 
eldest brother, who inherited the title, but a 
younger one, who had married an immensely 
rich wife, and whose two girls were the sole 
inheritors of their mother’s fortune. Clarissa 
was the eldest, and Lady Jane thought that 
she would make an excellent wife for Mark. 
She had thought this for some time, and had 
laid her plans with a good deal of diplomacy. 
The young people had met in Switzerland 
185 


186 OVT OF THE FASHIOK 

the summer before ; they had not been thrown 
together, but had got into the habit of fall- 
ing into each other’s company a good deal. 
They talked and laughed and flirted after 
the cool fashion in which cousins can flirt, 
when they are so inclined, and Lady Jane’s 
hopes were high. 

Clarissa’s father was the owner of a 
splendid place in Cornwall, and Lady Jane 
broadly hinted that Mark and Philippa 
should spend Christmas with their cousins. 
Strange to say, the hint was disregarded. 
Lady Jane thought hard during the spring 
and early summer ; it was so necessary for 
Mark to marry money, and Clarissa was Just 
the girl to bring him distinction in every 
way. Lady Jane resolved to ask her nieces 
to Ashton Manor, to get Jessica Power to be 
one of the party, and by hook or crook to 
have the young people engaged to one an- 
other before Clarissa left her house. 

It was not a particularly honorable idea, 
but Lady Jane’s honorable connections were 
njore numerous than her thoughts. 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 187 

For some reason, vyhicli she was never able 
to discover, Clarissa and Violet promised to 
come to the Manor, and then day by day and 
week by week deferred their visit. The ex- 
cuses they made were excellent. Violet had 
a bad cold, Clarissa had to accompany her 
mother to Sweden, but they 'would come — 
oh, yes ! — they wanted to spend a little time 
with dear Aunt Jane, and dear Philippa and 
Mark. 

At last, in October, Lady Jane’s hopes 
once more suddenly revived. Clarissa wrote 
to say she would be with them that evening. 
She must make her visit alone, for Vi was at 
Brighton with mother. 

Mark,” said Lady Jane, Clarissa is 
coming down by the 3:30 train from Water- 
loo ; you’ll be sure to meet her and escort 
her down, won’t you ? ” 

Mark, who was fond of Clarissa, looked 
pleased and interested. 

Of course Pll meet her,” he said. “ It’s* 
rather a bore her choosing such an early 
train, for I had made an engagement for that 


188 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


very hour ; but never fear, mother, I’ll be at 
Waterloo in good time.” 

Mark left the room as he spoke. Lady 
Jane turned to Philippa. 

At last ! ” she said, with a sigh. 

AYell, mothery,” replied that young lady, 
if I were you I’d leave ^ At last ! ’ alone, 
for, in my opinion, it has not arrived 
yet.” 

“ Nonsense, Philippa, you speak without a 
bit of heart. You don’t know how devoured 
with anxiety I am. All my life I have 
striven to do my very utmost for Mark. I 
have denied myself for his sake. AVhen I 
see him married to his cousin Clarissa, I shall 
be happy.” 

Dear me, rnamsey, I hope you’ll be happy 
whoever Mark marries.” 

What do you mean, miss ? Whoever 
Mark marries ? He is as good as engaged to 
Clarissa this minute.” 

Miss Dauby stuck her hands into the 
pockets of her tailor-made jacket — she w^as 
dressed for going out at the time — and, turn- 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 189 

ing on her heel, whistled a bar of Sweet- 
hearts.” 

Philippa, your unladylike conduct nearly 
maddens me.” 

Philippa stopped wdiistling at once. 

Dear mother,” she answered, “ you know 
I would not really vex you for the world, but 
how can I help giving vent to astonishment 
when I hear you say that Clarissa and our 
Marky are nearly engaged ? ” 

Lady Jane almost sprang from her chair. 

“ Marky ! How can you speak of your 
brother in that w^ay ? It’s enough to put 
Clarissa against him.” 

‘‘ Oh, no, it isn’t ; she’s not that sort, by any 
means. Now, mothery, will you listen to a 
word of advice from this wild, impertinent, 
boyish daughter of yours ? ” 

Well, my love, you know I’m very fond of 
you, Philippa, although you do try me so often.” 

Of course, mother, I know that. Now 
do listen. Leave Mark and Clarissa alone. 
J)onH throw them together, and doi^t look at 
them with that expression on your face which 


190 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

says so plainly, ^ Oh, my children, come and 
kneel to me for my blessing ! ’ Just let 
things alone — do, if you want anything to 
come of this. But I fear, I fear, I fear ! ” 

Philippa ran out of the room, and Lady 
Jane, left to herself, wept some angry tears. 
She thought her daughter one of the most 
trying of mortals. 

Mark accompanied his cousin down to 
Ashton by the 3:30 train. They arrived at 
the Manor just in time for afternoon tea. 
Everything was looking its best ; the draw- 
ing room was bright with autumn leaves and 
flowers, a cozy fire crackled on the hearth, and 
Lady Jane, in dove-colored silk and soft 
white lace, looked aristocratic enough to be 
anybody ; the tea equipage was of the choicest, 
the tea of the most fragrant, and Mark led 
Clarissa in with all the eclat which the oc- 
casion demanded. 

The weather was cold enough for furs, and 
Clarissa was clothed up to her delicate, fair 
throat in sable. She had a sable cap on her 
head, and her eyes, which were large and dark 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 191 

in color, were full of eager expectation. If 
slie was not in love with Mark, she liked him 
— even Philippa had to admit that. 

The party sat round the hearth, and chatted 
and laughed. Clarissa gave a ludicrous ac- 
count of the many reasons which had pre- 
vented her coming sooner to the Manor. 

I wanted to come,” she said, looking up 
innocently and affectionately at Mark ; “ for 
you know I promised to pay you a visit in 
your own house this summer. Don’t you re- 
member, Philippa how we planned it all that 
evening at Lucerne ? Oh, yes, I wanted to 
come, and so did Vi, for that matter, but so 
many things came in the way, and last of all, 
there was mother’s illness. Oh dear, oh dear, 
the summer has gone, and I have not redeemed 
my promise ! ” 

You have done the best you could, my 
love,” said Lady Jane. You are here now, 
and we can forget the past while we enjoy 
the present. We’ll keep Clarissa as long as 
we can, won’t we, Mark ? ” 

I hope so,” answered Mark. He was 


102 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


looking at his cousin with undisguised ad- 
miration. 

The color mantled into her cheeks under 
his gaze. She tossed aside her fur cap, and 
unfastened the warm sables round her throat. 
She was a very beautiful girl, very bright, 
fresh, and sweet; it was impossible for all 
present not to be charmed with her. 

At dinner Clarissa wore white, and Mark 
looked particularly handsome in his evening 
dress. He did not wear his evening dress on 
ordinary nights, but he thought it only right 
to pay this little mark of respect to his cousin. 

She’s handsomer than ever,” he said to him- 
self ; and I don’t think I’m conceited when I 
fancy that she likes me. Of course it never 
can be anything but cousinly affection,” and 
Mark gave the ghost of a sigh, and made up 
his mind to be intensely virtuous during the 
evening. 

He had forgotten to write to Sibyl that day ; 
a letter of hers — a sad letter, too — lay unan- 
swered in his pocket. 

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OUT OF THE FASHION. 193 

after dinner they crowded round the piano, 
and had a gay time. They tried a few trios, 
then Philippa sang alone, then Clarissa sat 
down to the piano, and presently she and 
Mark had the musical part of the entertain- 
ment to themselves, for Philippa left the room 
to attend to the wants of a sick Sunday 
scholai^ and Lady Jane was far too worldly 
wise to approach the piano. 

Clarissa’s voice blended beautifully with 
Mark’s, and they sang several love songs with 
great feeling together. 

Just before bedtime, when the four were 
standing round the fire, and Mark’s eyes were 
traveling very often in the direction of 
Clarissa’s, Philippa made one of her abrupt 
observations. 

Cook has just told me that she is going out 
to the pillar-box with a letter of her own. If 
yours is ready, she will take it at the same 
time, Marky.” 

The suddenness of this attack, joined to the 
dancing light of mischief in Philippa’s eyes, 
threw Mark completely off his balance. 


194 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

Mine ready ? What do you mean ? ” he 
asked, with an uneasy laugh. 

“What I say, my dear boy. You write a 
letter every night and post it. Cook can save 
you the trouble to-night if it is ready, that is 
all.” 

“ It is not ready,” he answered. And he 
turned on his keel. He could have bitten out 
his tongue the next instant for having avowed 
the existence of the nightly letter. He felt 
afraid almost to glance at Clarissa, but when 
he did look at her again, her face was calm. 
She had observed nothing. 


CHAPTEK XVIII. 

Mark had not then the least intention of 
flirting with his cousin. In his heart of 
hearts he was true to Sibyl. He loved her 
better than any girl he had ever met. Sibyl 
without money would be a better wife for 
him than the richest maiden of his day. 
Still, Mark was not the most constant of 
human beings. He had a very fine figure 
and a handsome face, but he had not a par- 
ticularly strong order of mind. Clarissa was 
very pleasant to talk to, very pleasant to look 
at. He could not help being impressed with 
the idea that she liked him with something 
more than cousinly regard. He was not con- 
ceited enough to suppose that she was madly 
in love with him, but he thought that a very 
little effort on his part would make her so. 
Clarissa was too handsome and too rich not 


195 


196 


OUT OF TEE FASHION. 


to have had many offers of marriage, but she 
evidently had never cared for anyone suffi- 
ciently to say Yes.” As Mark watched her 
face, he used to wonder, in case he said the 
fateful words, if she would say “Yes” to 
him. 

Lady Jane had sufficiently profited by 
Philippa’s advice to leave the young people 
to themselves. She felt happy during these 
days, for, although Mark did not mean to flirt, 
lie was undoubtedly attentive, and that other 
affair about which she had once received 
some dark hints, that “ common kind of girl” 
who lived somewhere in Rosemary Gardens, 
about whom she had written to Jessica, 
surely Mark had forgotten all about the 
girl long ago. 

When Clarissa had spent nearly a week at 
the Manor, the letters were brought in one 
morning as usual at breakfast-time. Phil- 
ippa had two, Mark one, which he slipped 
into his pocket, and Lady Jane received 
three or four as her share of the post-bag. 
Clarissa had no letter to read that morning, 


OUT OF THE FASIIIOH. 


197 


and she noticed, with a kind of lazy wonder, 
how Mark popped his out of sight, and how 
Lady Jane and Philippa devoured theirs. 

Meeting Mark’s eyes, she bent forward 
and spoke : 

How unlike a woman you are, Mark,” 
she said. Women can’t bear to leave their 
letters unread.” 

Mark colored as she addressed him. 

Your letter was a bill, wasn’t it, Marky ?” 
suddenly exclaimed Philippa, raising her 
eyes from her own epistle. Then she con- 
tinued, without listening for his reply : 

“ Oh, mothery, Clarissa, and Mark, do 
listen ! I have got such a delicious letter 
from dear old Jessica Power. Her boarding 
house is started, and she incloses me a pro- 
spectus. Here it is: ‘No. 80 Eosemary 
Gardens. Boarding house for girls,’ and here 
is the tariff of terms. I tell you what it 
is, I mean to go to that boarding house. 
Clarissa, suppose we go up there together ? 
You know you want to do some shopping. 
Suppose we go to-morrow, and spend two or 


198 ‘ OUT OF TEE FASHION. 

tliree clays ? What is it, motheiy ? Do you 
object ? ” 

Of course I do, niy dear. Do you think 
my brother would permit Clarissa to go to a 
common boarding house? Boarding houses 
are always low, second-rate kind of places.” 

“ But this is not low, nor second-rate, nor 
common. This is Jessica’s boarding hcnise, 
her own little pet investment, 23aid for and 
provided out of her own money, and the girls 
who manage it are quite ladies, as good as I 
am, Jessica says.” 

“Well, my dear, well, but T don’t think 
Clarissa’s fatlier would wish her to go to any 
place of the kind.” 

“ I am sure he would not,’’ murmured 
Mark, whose face had suddenly grown very 
white. 

“ I don’t think father would mind in the 
least,” interrupted Clarissa. “Neither he 
nor mother are at all faddy, and they like us 
to go about and see life.” 

“ Besides,” continued Philippa, “ Jessica 
says that no girl will be admitted to the 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


199 


boarding bouse without an introduction, and 
that the sole qualification necessary is that 
she shall be a lady. Poverty is nothing, Jes- 
sica says, but gentle ways and gentle birth 
are essential.” 

Just like Jessica,” murmured Lady Jane. 
“ She will probably fill her house Avith 
genteel paupers.” 

“Well, mamsey, we’ll pay, if we go. Do 
let us, do say yes — just for two days, mamsey, 
love ! Clarissa come, come and coax with 
me. You know mother can refuse you noth- 
ing ! ” 

“Do let us go,” said Clarissa, in her soft 
voice. 

Lady Jane looked at her pretty niece in a 
sort of bewilderment. Then she glanced at 
her son. 

Mark shook his head, and formed “No” 
with his lips. 

“ Mark agrees with me,” said Lady Jane. 

The color deepened all over Clarissa’s face 
when her aunt said this. 

“ I am of age,” she said, pouting her rosy 


200 


OUT OF THE FiiSHION. 


lips, and I know my own father and mother 
would let me go. If you wish, Aunt Jane, I 
can telegraph to them.” 

Oh, no, my love, not if you are sure, and 
your heart is set on this.” 

“ Of course her heart is set on it, mamsey,” 
interrupted Philippa, of course we’ll go, 
we’ll both go. It will be a delicious new ex- 
perience. Put on your hat at once, Clari, 
and we’ll run up to the village and send a 
wire to old Jessica.” 

Philippa, you get more slangy in your ex- 
pressions every day,” exclaimed her mother. 

“ I don’t care ; I must let off steam some- 
how ! ^^ow then, Clarissa, pet, we’ll fly off 
and get this affair arranged in double-quick 
time.” 

The girls rushed out of the room. 

“How impulsive Philippa is,” Lady Jane 
said, looking at her son. 

“Yes,” he answered, in an abstracted man- 
ner. Then he added, “You’re not going to 
let the girls go to that boarding house, 
mother ? ” 


OUT OF TITF FASUTON. 201 

I don’t know,” she said. How am I to 
prevent it? Clarissa, as she remarks, is of 
age, and yoiii* uncle George, her father, al- 
ways had eccentric views about all men 
being brothers, and that sort of thing ; pro- 
vided the boarding house was respectable, he 
would be sure to let her go, and if we oppose 
her she will only telegraph for leave. As 
she goes, Philippa may as well go with her, 
eh, Mark ? ” 

Certainly,” remarked Mark. He went to 
the door, tui-ned the handle, hesitated, and 
came back again. 

“ Mother,” he said, “ you are clever. Can’t 
3"ou manage to keep the girls from going to 
80 Eosemary Gardens ? ” 

“ My dear Mark ! ” 

“ The fact is, I know the place.” 

“ You know it ? But this boarding house 
of Jessica’s has only just been opened.” 

“ I know the people who live there.” 

“ Do you ? Who are they ? ” 

“ Their name is Boss. Their father ” 

knoAV,” exclaimed Lady Jane, impulsive- 


202 OUT OF TEE FASHION. 

ly. Then she feniembered some rumors she 
had once heard about Mark, and wondered 
that she could ever have doubted her boy. 

My dear fellow,” she said, “ I dare say 
the daughters of this unfortunate man are 
in themselves blameless, and if Jessica has 
taken them under her protection — Well, well, 
Mark,” seeing a cloud still on her son’s brow 
— “ I cannot too much admire your anxiety 
about your sister, and your” — she looked up in 
his face — cousin,” came out slowly and with 
meaning. If I can keep the girls at home, 
I will, Mark. And now, my son, let me ask 
you one word. You know my wishes, my 
longings, and desires. Have you made any 
progress ? ” 

“ Ho, no, none. I wish you would get this 
idea out of your head, mother.” 

He spoke crossly, and left the room in by 
no means a good temper. 

If Mark had told his mother to dismiss 
the idea she had suggested, he by no means 
banished it from his own head. Through 
the day it stayed with him, and the more he 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 203 

tliouglit of it tlie more did it fascinate him. 
Still ill his heart did he love Sibyl best. “ If 
they both had money, I would not hesitate 
a minute which I should choose,” he said ; 

but Clarissa is very sweet — and these duns 
— they do press me awfully, and how am I ever 
going to confess the fact to the mater that 
I am hundreds of pounds in debt ? ” 

Mark spent a very uncomfortable day. 
He went to town, but found it impossible to 
turn his attention to dry treatises on law. 
He spent but a short time at his chambers 
and returned by an early train to Ashton. 
Clarissa was walking by herself in the 
garden. He could not help joining her, and 
looking at her a good deal oftener than he 
ought, and coming to the conclusion that, in 
her way, she was just as pretty as Sibyl. 

It was growing dusk, for the days were 
very slioid, and nothing in the world was 
easier than for a young man like Mark to say 
soft, pattering words in a meaning voice to a 
girl like Clarissa, in the soft, dusky light. 
No one could have received those nothings 


204 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


with more appreciation than she did. When 
they entered the house Mark was more cer- 
tain than ever that if at any time he did ask 
an important question of his rich cousin she 
would give him a favorable answer. 


CHAPTER XIX. 

The boarding house was a splendid success. 
It was opened on the 1st of September with 
great eclat by Jessica herself. On this occa- 
sion it did not look the least like a boarding 
house. The window-boxes were all full of 
fresh flowers ; the balconies were laden with 
them, and on the balconies the girl-boarders 
stood, and talked to one another, and 
wondered what strange thing had happened 
to them, and how they could possibly manage 
to attain for thirty shillings a week such an 
artistic and luxurious home. 

The boarding house, with its bright young 
hostesses, soon became popular, and, as Jessica 
had predicted, was quickly fllled from attic 
to cellar. The prices charged varied accord- 
ing to the floors, girls who had very small 
means being accommodated with bedrooms in 
205 


206 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

the bright, freshly-painted attics for a pound 
a week. 

‘^And there will be no extras,” Jessica in- 
sisted. You understand me, Maggie, I am 
quite resolved on that head. We will name 
a price to each girl and stick to it. And re- 
member, when the evenings get chilly, each 
of the girls is to have a lire in her bedroom, 
and there is always to be a supply of fresh 
candles, and a book or two lying about ; for 
I want the lassies to regard their bedrooms as 
real homes, Avhere they may rest, and be hajopy 
as circumstances will allow them.” 

Of course with these rules governing the 
establishment, and love and peace, and a sense 
of pleasant, homely luxury which pervaded 
the very air of the house, it could not heljD 
being more than popular. 

Maggie, to whom all the letters were ad- 
dressed, had a great many more applications 
for her rooms than she could accept. She felt 
quite sorry to have to write so very often in 
reply to the pleading letters, that the house 
was full, quite full. Jessica Power talked 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 207 

seriously of buying tlie next liouse as soon as 
ever she had the chance, and so adding to the 
capacities of the boarding house. 

I am truly sorry for the girls who can’t 
come,” Kitty said. feel convinced that 
no girls who are away from their real homes 
could be happier than those who live with us. 
These fresh country girls, with all their lives 
before them, are too delicious ; their enthusi- 
asm quite carries me away.” 

Of course you have no enthusiasm your- 
self, Kitty,” remarked Betty, in a sly voice. 

None, Betty, in comparison with the Hop- 
kinses, and two Macjones girls, from Wales. 
Gladys Macjones told me last night that she 
quite expected to be initiated into the 
mysteries of art in three months ; and Mary 
posted a sonnet to the editor of the Nine- 
teentli Century a couple of days ago. She 
hopes Gladstone will notice it. Oh, they ex- 
pect so much — those Hopkinses and Mac- 
joneses — nothing — nothing in all the world 
seems impossible to them.” 

While the girls were chattering. Miss 


208 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


Power walked into tke room. She had now 
got accustomed to crossing the square ^vith- 
out Susannah’s company. She had only 
thrown a shawl over her head to come over 
to No. 80, and now she tossed it on the sofa 
of Maggie’s little private sitting room. 

Well, Kitty, what are you all smiles 
about ? ” she asked. 

We are so happy,” replied Kitty. The 
boai’ding house is a merry sort of place, 
and the girl boarders are full of interest.” 

“ But we miss little Nineteen-year-old,” re- 
marked Miss Power. “ The place would 
have been still merrier if she had not left 
us. Do 3mu often hear from the child, Mar- 
garet.” 

“Yes,” replied Margaret. “She writes 
regularly once a week.” 

“ I trust she is happy ? ” 

“ I hope so,” answered Margaret, she 
writes cheerfully enough, and makes us laugh 
over Uncle David’s funny ways. Still — ” 
Margaret was about to add something further, 
when one of the servants brought in a tele- 


OUT OF THE FASHIOK 209 

gram. She opened it and read its contents, 
and then handed it to Miss Power. 

“ We cannot take them in,” she said ; “ the 
house is quite full.” 

Miss Power read the telegram over twice. 
The first time her lips twitched ; the second 
time her eye smiled. 

“ AVhy, Maggie,” she said, this telegram 
is from Philippa Dauby — Mark Danby’s 
sister — and the girl she wants to bring with 
her is Clarissa Marmaduke, one of the great- 
est heiresses of the day, and niece to the 
Earl of Silchester.” 

Well,” repeated Maggie, am sorry, but 
the house is full from attic to cellar. You 
don’t want me to turn anybody out, do you 
Jessica ? ” 

^^Yes, my love, I do. I would not refuse 
Philippa’s request for all the w^orld. Phil- 
ippa is one of the best girls I know, and it is 
too rich her wanting to come here. It is my 
belief, Margaret, and Kitty, and Betty, that 
that scoundrel Mark has never told liis sister 
or his mother of his engagement to* our little 


210 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

Nineteen-year-old. Won’t we take it out of 
him just ! My dear girls, I wouldn’t be en- 
gaged to a man like Mark Danby for all 
creation, but as Sibyl is his affianced wife, 
and as, for some incomprehensible reason, she 
likes him, we may be able to do her a good 
turn when those girls come here.” 

^^But the house is full,” repeated Mar- 
garet. 

“Yes, yes, my love. Now the question is, 
who can we best turn out ? Where do the 
Macjoneses sleep, Betty ? ” 

“ They have the back attic between them,” 
replied Betty. “Their two tiny beds are 
stowed away under the roof. I must say 
they have a rather confined space, but they 
enjoy themselves immensely, and then you 
know we only charge them fifteen shillings a 
week each.” 

“ I will ask the Macjoneses to sleep at my 
house for two or three nights,” replied Miss 
Power. “ Susannah shall get a room ready 
for them; it shall be on the drawing room 
fioor.” 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 211 

Jessica, we cannot ask Miss Danby 
and that other girl to slee}) up in the back 
attic. It really sounds too dreadful.” 

My dear, it does not sound dreadful at 
all, and Philippa will enjoy it.” 

“ But could you not ask her and Miss Mar- 
maduke to use your bedroom on the drawing- 
room floor ? ” 

^^No, my dear, no. What novelty would 
there be in that to those girls? Let them 
have the attic ; they will be enraptured.” 

So Maggie had to fill in her telegram in 
the following way : 

House full. Only a clean back attic, with two beds, 
to spare. Shall I reserve it ? 

In the course of a couple of hours a second 
telegram was received at 80 Rosemary Gar- 
dens. It ran as follows : 

Will take the back attic. Expect us to-morrow 
evening. Philippa Danby. 

At the apj)ointed hour Philippa and Clarissa 
made their appearance. Clarissa looked a 
little shy, Philippa gayJy expectant. Clarissa 


212 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


was accustomed to the best hotels ; to suites 
of rooms on tlie first floor, engaged in advance. 
She would have been quite cool and composed 
and uninterested in one of these rooms, but 
the back attic, 'with the little bed puslied 
away under the roof, made her feel shy. 

Good gracious, my love,” exclaimed Phil- 
ippa to her cousin, as they stood in their 
humble room and looked around them. “ Did 
'you notice that all the girls in the house are 
dressed for dinner ? I met groups of them 
on the stairs, all rigged out in diaphanous 
drapery. Are they giving a party here ? 
AVhat is going to happen ? ” 

“ I have not brought a stitch of anything 
for the evening,” said Clarissa. ^‘It never 
occurred to me it was necessary in a boarding 
house, and Aunt Jane did snub this one so. 
And then that telegram offering us the back 
attic.” 

“My dear, the back attic is delicious, 
heavenly ; we shall see half over London 
from that dormer window. But now, Clari, 
about our dress ! ” 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 213 

I have nothing, Philippa — nothing what- 
ever. I am clothed from head to foot in blue 
serge, and I ha v e got a brown serge in my port 
manteau, in case this one gets soaked, if I’m 
caught in a shower. That is all.” 

‘‘ Have you got a bit of jewelry — a gold 
locket and chain, or anything of that sort ? ” 

No, this dull steel brooch fastens my dress 
at the throat. I did not even bring my watch, 
chain, for I slipped my watch, for convenience, 
into m)^ leather bracelet.” 

It was the back attic,” ejaculated Philippa. 

I also am in blue serge, and my watch 
reposes in a bracelet. Well, there is no help 
for it; let’s brush out our hair, wash our 
hands, and come down. I hope there is a 
good dinner, for I am so hungry.” 

The two girls tripped dowmstairs, hand in 
hand. Philippa was tall and slender ; her 
figure was very neat, her black hair crisp and 
wavy ; her pale face redeemed from plain- 
ness by the vivacious expression of her 
sparkling, mischievous black eyes. Clarissa 
was small. Her complexion was very fair, 


214 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


blit her eyes were large and dark, and seen 
by daylight bad a peculiar red-brown in 
tbeir coloring, wbicb gave them a particu- 
larly bright and lovely expression. Her 
hair was fair, and had also a very faint dash 
of red about it. Clarissa ivas pi’etty enough 
even to carry off the effect of her hea^^ serge 
dress. 

Kitty, in white cashmere, came forward to 
meet the two girls when they entered the 
drawing room. Kitty had not at all the 
manners of the ordinary boarding house. 

It was sweet of you to come,” she said, 
taking a hand of each. “ I was dreadfully 
distressed at putting you into the back attic, 
but Jessica said you would not mind. For- 
give me, I don’t know one of you from the 
other. Which of you is Jessica’s friend ? ” 

“ I am,” replied Philippa. I have known 
Jessica since I was quite a small tot ; she is a 
dear, generous, eccentric old soul, and I ad- 
mire her immensely. Miss Koss, may I in- 
quire why you are gazing so fixedly at me ? ” 
You are like your brother,” replied 


OUT OF Tim FASHION. 215 

Kitty. “Like him, yet different — very dif- 
ferent.” Here she sighed. 

“ Good gracious ! You don’t tell me you 
know Marky ? ” 

“ Oh, yes, we all know Mr. Danby very 
well. What part of the room would you 
like best to sit in ? I beg your pardon — I 
don’t quite hear what you are saying ? ” 

“ You are welcome to listen to the solitary 
sentence I let escape my lips. Miss Loss. I 
was saying to myself, ^ Nuts to crack with 
Marky, by and by.’ You will perceive by 
the style of my speech that your delightful 
back attic suits me perfectly. Now what 
were you good enough to ask me a minute 
ago ? ” 

“What part of the drawing room would 
you like best to sit in ? ” 

“ Clarissa and I will choose a little humble 
corner where we can sit unobserved. We 
had no idea you were entertaining company 
to-night.” 

“Nor are we— oh, you mean that the girls 
are in light dresses. We who live here gen- 


21G 


OVT OF TEE FASHIOE, 


erally put ou sometliiug cool in tlie evenings. 
It is refreshing to change our heavy dresses, 
and good economy besides, for we can wear 
out our old summer frocks in that fashion.” 

I am so sorry that my cousin and I must 
appear in these heav}’ serges.” 

“ Oh, it does not matter at all ! ” 

“ We thought yours was an ordinary board- 
ing house.” 

Wliich it is not,” replied Kitty, her eyes 
sparkling. ^Odere is a very coz}^ corner. Miss 
Dauby, and may I introduce my sister Betty 
to you ? Betty, here is Miss Danby, and here 
is Miss Marmaduke.” 

I am sure you must be hungry, both of 
you,” said Betty, when she had shaken hands, 
and found out for lierself the likeness between 
Philippa and Mai'k. 

“I am starving,” replied Philippa. “I 
Avon’t answer for Clarissa; she must speak 
for herself.” 

“AVell, the dinner gong will sound in a 
moment,” replied Bett}^, “and after dinner 
will come our pleasantest time.” 


CHAPTER XX. 


There was a great sameness about life at 
Shortlands. Breakfast was at eight punc- 
tually, lunch at one, tea in the drawing room 
at four, and dinner at seven. These four 
meals constituted the pillars of the day. 
They were colossal pillars, and could never 
be moved a quarter of an inch in any direc- 
tion. Trains might be missed, relatives might 
die, hearts might be broken, but at one to 
the minute Mr. and Mrs. Ross must seat them- 
selves at the head or foot of the luncheon 
table; Muriel, smooth and composed, must 
occupy one side; Sibyl, crossed and ruffled, 
the other. Luncheon was but a sample of all 
other meals ; the knell of doom must, indeed, 
have gone forth before these important cere- 
monies could be disorganized. 

The method observed in connection with 
the meals was carried into all the minor de- 
217 


218 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

tails of tlie liousehold. At Sliortlands there 
was not only a place for everything and everj- 
thing in its place, but also a time for every- 
thing and everything done in its own time. 
For instance, Muriel’s walking hour was from 
eleven to twelve every da}^ Muiiel liked to 
be out at eleven, and to be wiping her feet on 
the mat as the great eight-day clock in the 
hall struck twelve. From two to half -past 
three she gave herself another hour and half 
of exercise, either on foot or in the brougham. 

Every moment of this young lady’s day 
was planned. She studied geology and 
history from nine to ten; from ten to five 
minutes to eleven she practiced. From five 
past twelve to five minutes to one she made 
gai*ments for the poor. After four o’clock 
tea she either read aloud to her mother or 
embroidered pocket handkerchiefs for herself ; 
after dinner she resumed her embroidery. 
The embroidering of her own name on 
pocket handkerchiefs seemed to Sibyl to be 
the only light occupation in which Muriel 
indulged. 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 219 

One day passed exactly like anotlier, ex- 
cept that on wet days Muriel took her con- 
stitutional exercise in the picture gallery, 
where she diverted her mind from frivolous 
thoughts by committing to memory large 
portions of epic verse. The evening was 
the only time when the solemn routine of 
life at Shortlands was allowed to be broken. 

On a certain Thursday evening each fort- 
night Muriel bade her parents a dutiful good- 
night as the clock struck nine, and tripped 
out of the room. 

Muriel goes to have her hair washed,” 
Mrs. Ross remarked to Sibyl. “She has to 
sit by the fire afterward, and have it 
properly dried. It takes just an hour to dry 
Muriel’s thick hair.” 

On every second Thursday Muriel’s hair 
was washed. On the alternate Thursday 
also this good girl absented herself just an 
hour before the family retired to rest. On 
this occasion she descended to the house- 
keeper’s room to put the coachman through 
his letters. As far as Sibyl could make out. 


220 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


the coachman never seemed to advance be- 
yond this rndimentaiy branch of education. 
This was certainly owing to no fault of 
Muriel’s, who gave him his full hour, no more 
and no less, of instruction every fortnight. 

Into this placid home, Sibyl, the unruly, 
the undisciplined, the untamed, suddenly 
found herself plunged. At first the routine 
life had a paralyzing effect upon her. She 
was swept along on its current; she recognized 
its power; she made violent efforts to con- 
form herself to Muriel’s ways ; she tried to 
brush her frizzy hair smooth ; she made val- 
iant efforts to read dull books ; she heroically 
listened to Uncle David’s stupid stoiaes, and 
to Aunt Matilda’s ceaseless talk about waifs 
and strays. 

This kind of thing lasted for a long time ; 
then Sibyl’s patience burst its bounds ; she 
electrified this good, excellent family by dis- 
playing a decided fit of childish bad temper 
and naughtiness at the breakfast table. The 
special incident wdiich showed Sibyl in her 
true colors took place at the breakfast table. 


OUT OF THE FA8HI0H. 


221 


The letters were brought in by Jonathan, 
and placed in a locked bag by Mr. Eoss’s 
side. AVith all the method of the house 
there was an aggravating want of method in 
the opening of the letter- bag. Mi*s. Eoss and 
Muriel scarcely ever held communication 
with the world, and Mr. Eoss, who thought 
his letters could keep until he had time to 
attend to them, often kept tlie bag locked 
until he returned from his tour round the 
farm. 

Now, however, eager eyes watched for 
the unlocking of that bag, for Sibyl’s almost 
daily letter from Mark was the sole bit of 
sunshine in her present dreary life. 

One morning, when she had been nearly 
a fortnight at Shortland, Mi*. Eoss kejDt the 
locked bag beside him while he read a long 
account of a shareholders’ meeting out of 
yesterday’s Times aloud to his wife and 
family. Mrs. Eoss and Mui*iel were deeply 
interested, and only Sibyl’s hungry blue 
eyes looked past the Times at the locked 
bag. 


222 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


Mr. Ross suddenly started to liis feet. 

^^My dear,” lie said to his wife, in a 
shocked voice, “what have I been thinking 
of? It is three minutes since my usual hour 
for visiting the stables. Muriel, take the 
letter-bag to my study. I will not wait to 
open it now.” 

“ But, uncle,” exclaimed Sibyl, in a pierc- 
ing loud tone. 

Mr. Ross left the room without taking the 
least notice. He was a little deaf, so he may 
not have heard her. 

“ I must run after Uncle David,” exclaimed 
Sibyl, “ for I want my letter.” 

She turned her flushed, impatient face to 
Mrs. Ross as she spoke. 

“I know there’s a letter for me in the 
post-bag,” she continued. “ I’ll run and ask 
Uncle David for the key.” 

“ My dear Sibyl, you’ll do nothing of the 
sort,” answered Mrs. Ross. “If there is a 
letter for you, you will find it on your plate 
at lunch-time.” 

“ I really can’t wait until then. Aunt 


MR. ROSS FELL BACK A FEW STEPS IN HIS ASTONISHMENT 











OUT OF THE FASHION. 223 

Matilda: I can’t and I won’t; I want my 
own letter, and Uncle David lias no right to 
keep it from me ! ” 

She was in a decided passion now, and 
rushed out of the sober dining room, slam- 
ming the door behind her. 

Hatless she pursued her uncle into the 
stable-yard, and touched him on the shoulder, 
as he was examining a sick horse in the com- 
pany of a neighboring vet. 

Uncle David, will you give me the key of 
the post-bag at once ? ” 

Eh — what ? Sibyl ! What are you do- 
ing here ? ” 

Mr. Ross fell back a few steps in his aston- 
ishment, but here he was assailed by such a 
piteous look of entreaty in two tearful blue 
eyes that his heart relented a little. The vet. 
and the two grooms gazed at Sibyl in open- 
eyed admiration, and had Mr. Ross remained 
obdurate, it is quite possible that key might 
have been wrenched from him by violence. 

As it was, he fumbled in his pocket and 
said : 


224 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


There, my dear: I suppose your aunt 
sent you for it,” and Sibyl danced back to the 
bouse with her prize. She secured her letter, 
but Mrs. Eoss and Muriel w^ere both deeply 
offended, and from this moment her letters 
W'ere watched and noticed. Sibyl was asked 
w^ho her daily correspondent was. She 
stoutly refused to disclose his name, and now^ 
her life from being only passively, became 
actively, unhappy. 

Muriel, although such a placid, gentle, 
apparently good sort of girl, could be mali- 
cious and disagreeable in small w^ays. She 
made sly and nasty allusions to Sibyl’s daily 
letters, and, above all things, she taunted her 
w^hen they did not come. This was the hard- 
est thing of all to bear, for Mark’s letters 
w^ere less frecpient and less affectionate than 
of old. Sibyl felt herself sinking into a state 
of despair, and very soon despair made her 
reckless. She no longer cared to please her 
uncle and his wife. 

One day in October, the very day after 
Philippa and Clarissa had taken up their 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 225 

abode in the boarding house at No. 80, Sibyl 
awoke witli a bad headache, went downstairs, 
to find no letter waiting for her from Mark, 
was reproved for her careless, untidy appear- 
ance by Mrs. Eoss, was frowned at by her 
uncle, and taunted in an undertone by Muriel. 
The poor girl felt desperate, and, instead of 
following her cousin to the drawing room, as 
her usual custom was after breakfast, she ran 
up to her room, put on her hat, wrapped a 
plaid about her shoulders, and rushed 
out. 

The moor stretched inviting and beautiful 
before her. She had been forbidden to go 
there alone, but that fact only made her more 
eager to tread under foot the half -withered 
heather and bracken. Nobody was noticing 
her, and she soon mounted the stile, and 
found herself on the breezy, open commons. 
The wild, untamed air soothed the fierce 
hunger at her heart. She ran in the teeth of 
the wind, loosening lier plaid, and taking olf 
her hat, so that the breezes might fan her 
through and through. 


226 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

The breezes played rather roughly with 
Sibyl’s bright hair. One by one the pins 
which confined it disappeared, and soon her 
long, fair tresses were flying in the wind. 

She crossed one corner of the moor, but 
here her progress was stayed by a neatly 
fenced-in fleld, which, several years before, 
had been stolen from the common by a crafty 
farmer. There was a path leading right 
through this fleld, and a stile opening into 
the path. At the other side of the field the 
great commons stretched miles and miles away. 
Sibyl wondered if she could reach the spot 
where the sky now met the earth. Three 
gaunt trees stood upon the verge of the horizon. 
They would act as landmarks ; she would 
make for them. 

She passed through the stile, and began to 
run swiftly across the green field. It belonged 
to a cetain Farmer Bates, and Sibyl did not 
know that his prize bull was its present lord 
and master. The girlish, flying figure, with 
golden tresses swept back by the wind and a 
red plaid thrown over her arm, was much too 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


227 


picturesque an object not to excite bis 
majesty’s curiosity. 

The animal — Jupiter by name — did not 
appreciate people who fled through his king- 
dom carrying red shawls. He lowered his 
head, and prepared to do battle with his 
adversary. 


CHAPTER XXL 


Sibyl was a town-bred girl ; like other in- 
habitants of great cities she had read of 
country life and country dangers. The prin- 
cipal country danger which met her eyes in 
story books was Taurus, the bull. He was 
represented as, an awful monster, a bellowing, 
defiant, cruel fate from which there was no 
escape. 

She heard a low, growling bellow now, 
and looking round saw Jupiter, and gave 
herself up for lost. She uttered a piercing 
shriek, and instead of attempting to run, 
threw herself fiat down on the ground. She 
shut her eyes ; each instant she expected the 
bull’s horns to pierce her ; she wondered 
how she would feel when Jupiter lifted her 
on those horns and flung her high in the air. 
Why did he not come ? AVhat was the reason ? 

She heard a rush, a commotion — the 


228 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 529 

clatter of sticks — tlie sound of blows — tke 
mingling tones of one or two manly voices, 
and then she was lifted tenderly from the 
ground, and found her head supported on a 
man’s shoulder. 

I trust you are not hurt ? ” said an anx- 
ious voice. 

The voice came from the throat of Mr. 
Purcell, the curate. Mr. Purcell’s face was 
darkly, deeply red, and the thickly-made 
hand which he had slipped round Sibyl’s 
waist absolutely trembled. 

I trust, I hope you are not hurt,” he re- 
peated ; his agitation was intense. 

Oh, no, thank you,” said Sibyl, recovering 
herself. She stepped away from the en- 
circling arm and began hastily to twist up 
her refractory golden tresses. One of these 
tresses a moment before had rested against 
Mr. Purcell’s cheek. She knew nothing 
about it, but he did, and it must be confessed 
he liked the sensation. 

'' I hope you are not hurt ? ” repeated Mr. 
Purcell., 


230 OUT OF THE FASHION, 

no, not in the least. I am* very 
mucli obliged to you. Did you beat the 
bull and make him go back ? ” 

Bates and I did between us. That is 
Bates leading the bull through that gate 
now. He is the farmer who owns this held, 
and the bull is his. You ought not to have 
come in; it was very dangerous. Did you 
not see the board up with the words printed 
on it ^ Beware of the Bull ’ ? ” 

^‘No, I did not. There was a stile near 
and I came through. I am veiy much 
obliged to you, Mr. Purcell.” 

Oh, I’m only delighted. Perhaps I may 
be allowed to say that what I do for you I 
regard as a — a privilege.” 

I “ Thank you. I will say good-by now ; I 
want to finish my walk.” 

But are you not going home ? ” 

“ Home ? No, indeed. I am going across 
that common until I come to the trees on the 
top of that hill. Good-by.” She held out 
her hand. 

Mr. Purcell’s thick fingers touched her slim 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 231 

ones ; she turned on her heel and was away. 
The next instant Mr. Purcell heard her lidit 

o 

footsteps flying after him. 

“ Oh, do you know, it is too ridiculous, but 
my hat is gone ! I can’t And it anywhere ! 
I thought it was hanging to my belt, but it is 
not.” 

Mr. Purcell became immensely interested. 

“ Where caji you have left it ? ” he asked, 
don’t know. I walked straight from 
Shortlands here. I had the hat when I left 
the house. I took it oft' and fastened it to 
my belt. Now it is gone.” 

“ Shall we go back together and look for 
it?” 

Would you mind going back? I want 
to continue my walk. I don’t care in the 
least about wearing a hat. If you find it, 
you might hang it on one of the posts of the 
stile. Will you ? I shall be so grateful.” 

Sibyl scarcely waited for Mr. Purcell’s 
mumbled reply. In another moment she 
was oft again. She crossed the stile at the 
further end, and walked on the wide expanse 


232 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

of common until slie was weary. She could 
not reach the three gnarled old trees, for, 
brave as she was, she did not want the fate- 
ful luncheon hour to see her place at table 
vacant. 

She ran most of the way home. The hat 
was not waiting for her on the stile post, but 
when she reached her own room she saw it 
lying calmly on her bed. She scarcely gave 
the circumstance a thought at the time, but 
when she went down to lunch it occurred to 
her as the possible reason why her aunt, 
uncle, and cousin looked so black. 

Mr. Purcell was also at the table. He 
looked excessively red and awkward, and 
never glanced at Sibyl. His place was laid 
at the same side with Sibyl, but very far 
away from her. He was near Mrs. Ross, so 
near that he almost looked as if he were sit- 
ting in her pocket. He was considered by 
the parish and neighborhood generally as 
Mrs. Eoss’s own special curate, and she had 
the appearance now of a dragon guarding 
him from some deadly peril. 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 233 

When luncli was over, Sibyl was requested 
by her uncle and aunt to remain behind. 
Muriel and the curate meekly left the room 
in company. When they disappeared, Mrs. 
Koss went and shut the dining room door. 
Then she returned and faced the young girl. 

Sibyl,” she said, your uncle and I are 
deeply pained. You are a disobedient, de- 
signing, forward girl. You went on the com- 
mon when you were strictly forbidden to do 
so, and, not contented with this gross dis- 
obedience, you tried to inveigle poor Mr. 
Purcell into your wiles. Your uncle met him 
absolutely carrying your hat ! He said, poor 
young man, that he did so by your express 
instructions. Sibyl, you are a forward 
coquette. I am ashamed of you.' You are 
no fit companion for Muriel. Go to your 
room and stay there, until your uncle and I 
decide what is best to be done with you. 
Go at once, my dear, and now, not a word.” 

‘^1 don’t want to say a word,” retorted 
Sibyl. Her eyes flashed ; she banged herself 
out of the room. 


234 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


“ She is a pretty creature,” said David Ross 
to his wife. ^^Not that it makes any dif- 
ference in the sin, but I should not be sur- 
prised if Purcell liked holding her hat.” 

David ! ” said Mrs. Ross. “ I am 
ashamed of you even insinuating such thoughts. 
Samuel Purcell is a God-fearing and guile- 
less man.” 

She left the room, and Mr. Ross retired to 
his study. 

Upstairs Sibyl was very busy. 

This decides it,” she murmured to herself. 

Even Mark won’t keep me where I’m not 
wanted. Back I go to dear No. 80 this very 
night. Oh, another week of this awful life 
would have put me in a mad-house ! Fancy^ 
I being accused of flirting with Mr. Purcell ! ” 

She ran nervously about. Her trunks were 
dragged forward, her possessions ruthlessly 
thrust into them. In a short time the draw- 
ei*s and the wardrobe were emptied. The 
ugly room looked bare and desolate, for Sibyl’s 
two large trunks were full. She locked them 
carefully, strapped them with her own ener- 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 235 

getic hands, turned and re-directed the labels, 
and then sitting down on the window-ledge, 
opened her purse and counted its contents. 
These were slender, but she had enough to 
pay for a third-class fare to Euston. She 
would go — she would go that very night ; her 
trunks might be sent after her. She would 
walk to the station. 

She scribbled a little note and left it on her 
dressing table. It was a rather impertinent 
little note, for Sibyl’s feelings were sorely out- 
raged just then. She put on the hat, which 
the curate’s fingers had defiled, and waited 
until Mrs. Ross, Muriel, and Mr. Purcell went 
out for their drive. She sat well up on the 
window ledge, and watched the brougham 
drive swiftly round the carriage sweep. Mr. 
Purcell looked very uncomfortable on the 
little back seat, facing Mrs. Ross and Muriel ; 
his big knees were up nearly to his chin ; he 
was not talking, but Sibyl saw he was being 
talked to and at with vivacity. 

The carriage disappeared, and Sibyl slipped 
softly downstairs. She let herself out at the 


236 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


side door, saw to her relief that the brougham 
was bowling away in the opposite direction, 
and then set out at a brisk pace up and down 
the dusty hills which led from Shortlands to 
the little wayside station. 

No one stopped her on the road. She 
waited some time at the station, but at last a 
train did come up. She entered a third-class 
compartment, and after what seemed like the 
lapse of ages found herself once more at 
Euston Station. 


CHAPTER XXIL 


Philippa and Clarissa found tlie ‘^good 
time ” at tlie boarding bouse, which followed 
late dinner, a very excellent time indeed. 
These were the couple of hours in the day al- 
lotted to songs and innocent mirth-making. 
The girls could ask their young men friends 
to visit them then, and the young men were 
very glad to come. 

Philippa was the sort of girl to enter 
warmly into Miss Power’s scheme. Her 
voice and Clarissa’s were decided acquisitions 
to the music, and the new girls, notwithstand- 
ing their serge dresses, bade fair to become 
some of the most popular of the party. 

This happened the first night. The second 
night the fun and frolic and jovialty were 
even greater than the first. Miss Hanby and 
Miss Marmaduke might have lived all their 
lives at No. 80, so at home were they with 
237 


238 OUT OF THE FASHIOlS. 

the ways of the house and the manners of 
its inhabitants. They had provided them- 
selves with tea-gowns — cheap tea-gowns, but 
pretty. Clarissa’s was of a soft, pearly shade 
of blue ; Philippa’s was white. 

The weather was too cold now for the bal- 
cony windows to be open, but the light from 
the gay drawing room flittered out through 
the crevices of the blinds, and hailed with a 
warm glow of welcome a travel-stained girl, 
who, about nine o’clock this evening, drove 
up to the door. 

She ran up the steps, and gave the bell a 
loud, familiar peal. A strange servant 
opened the door to her. 

‘^Is Miss Ross in?” asked Sibyl. ^^You 
need not say I’ve come. I’d rather run up to 
my room, and make myself tidy first.” 

The servant looked bewildered. 

But, if you please, miss, the house is quite 
full.” 

Oh, thank you ; perhaps it is to others, 
but not to me. I am Sibyl Ross, one of the 
young ladies. Don’t tell anyone I’ve come, 


OUT OF THE FASHIOF. 239 

please. I’ll go to Kitty’s room ; I know tke 
way.” 

They are all in the drawing room now, 
miss. Shall I take you to Miss Kitty’s room, 
Miss — Miss Sibyl ? ” 

The maid had heard of Sibyl ; she had also 
seen her photograph occupying a place of 
honor in most rooms in the house. This 
young country maid was of a romantic turn. 
She felt inclined to worship Sibyl’s dancing 
eyes and piquant face, and would have done 
anything in her power to aid her. 

“ If you come softly this way. Miss Sibyl, 
no one will hear us.” 

She took Sibyl to Kitty’s new room, pro- 
vided her with hot water, turned up the gas, 
and left her. Sibyl danced about. She was 
in an ecstasy at being home again ; the idea 
of being kissed in a moment or two by Maggie, 
Kitty, and Betty was bliss to her hungry 
heart. 

Kitty’s garments veiy nearly fitted Sibyl. 
She ruthlessly pulled out of its cupboard 
Kitty’s very choicest evening dress, and 


240 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


slijoped it on. The dress was gray, but of so 
pale a sliad'e that it looked almost white. 
Sibyl fastened a silver girdle round her waist, 
shook out her radiant hair, pinned it up more 
untidily than it had ever been pinned before, 
and then half -laughing, half-defiant, her eyes 
brimful of mirth, and yet with tears not very 
far off, her cheeks flushed with the bloom of 
the deepest rose, she stepj^ed along the coi- 
ridor, threw open the drawing-room door, and 
came in. 

They were all standing round the piano 
when she entered, and a wave of sweet melody, 
and words she had heard before rushed to 
meet her. 

With the sunshine and the swallows and the flowers 
She is coming, my beloved, o’er the sea. 

And I sit alone and count the weary hours 

Till she cometh in her beauty back to me ! 

And my heart will not be quiet 
But in a purple riot 
Keeps ever beating — 

At the thought of that sweet meeting, 

As she cometh, my beloved, home to me. 


The crowd was so great round the piano 


OUT OF THE FASmOK 241 

that at first the slim figure, who softly, all 
smiles and blushes, walked up the room, was 
not noticed, 

The song came to an end; there was an 
eager chorus of applause, girls and young men 
divided to right and left, and Sibyl saw a 
girl as young as herself and nearly as pretty 
seated at the piano, and playing the finale to 
her gay accompaniment. 

A man was bending over the girl, a man 
with an upright and graceful figure, and a 
smooth, dark head. It was from the lips of 
this man that the glad, passionate words of 
welcome had floated down to Sibyl. 

She could not help giving a little cry. She 
found it impossible to remember anyone else 
in the drawing room: Maggie, Kitty, Betty, 
even, were forgotten. She rushed to the 
piano, said “ Mark ! ” and held out her two 
hands. 

For an instant Mark Danby wavered : 
Sibyl might be an apj)arition, so sudden was 
her appearance. Then he looked into her 
eyes, and the love which was the truest thing 


242 OUT OF TSE FASHION. 

about him mastered all other feelings. He 
stooped down, and kissed Sibyl on her lips 
before everyone in the room. 

A lover’s kiss given in public generally 
causes some consternation. The girls w^ho 
were boarding in the house turned away and 
took up something to do, and tried to believe 
they had seen nothing. The young men be- 
gan to wonder if they ought to go. Clarissa 
turned white, and looked at Philippa ; 
Philippa’s eyes almost blazed. She took 
Clarissa’s hand and led her across the draw- 
ing room. 

Come,” she said, “ let us sit down in this 
corner, and rest until we recover ourselves. 
I’m stunned ; aren’t you ? ” 

don’t know,” replied Clarissa, in a 
dreary voice. The color did not return to 
her cheeks. 

Clari, dear Clari, don't tell me that you 
care.” 

Of course I don’t, Philippa, only it’s sud- 
den, isn’t it ? ” 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 243 

“ I don’t suppose it’s sudden at all. Kitty 
didn’t look the least astonished, and I saw 
Betty’s eyes dance. Look here, Clari, shall 
we slip out of the house, and go over and see 
J essica. She’ll tell us all about this ; she’ll 
let us know what it means.” 

“Very well,” said Clarissa. The girls 
stole upstairs, put on their waterproof cloaks, 
and let themselves out into the square. 

As they were walking across it, Clarissa 
said, not aloud, but in very strong, forcible 
language to her own heart : 

“ Now you’re not going to be silly about 
this. You never were, you know, one scrap 
in love with Mark. Of course, you could 
not have been in love with him.” 

But the refrain of the song she had just 
been listening to came back to her, and that 
refrain, notwithstanding her bravery, made 
her feel a little sick. 

Miss Power was at home, and in a moment 
the two girls found themselves in her cozy 
drawing-room. Clarissa sank down into the 


244 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

first chair, and remained silent. Philippa 
knelt by Jessica’s side and poured out her 
story. 

“ We made Mark come up to-night,” said 
Philippa, “ we made an appointment to meet 
him at the Grove, and then we got him to 
promise to come. At first he did not seem 
to like it very much, but then he gave way, 
and said he would come. Kitty and Betty 
and Maggie took his coming as a matter of 
course. After dinner we had what Betty 
calls our good time. It was a very good 
time indeed to-night. We all felt music-mad. 
I wonder you did not hear the noise we 
made across the Square.” 

Won’t Clarissa come nearer the fire?” 
suddenly interrupted Miss Power. ‘Wou 
look quite cold and white, my love. Here is 
a cozy little chair for you ; do take it.” 

Oh, I’m not a bit cold,” said Clarissa, 
jumping up. She took the fresh seat, how- 
ever, and tiled to toast her white cheeks at 
the fire. 

Now Philippa, go on,” said Miss Power. 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 245 

We sang glees, and quartettes, and trios 
until we were tired,” proceeded Philippa. 

Then Clarissa sat down and played an ac- 
companiment for Mark, and Mark sang alone. 
You know what a caressing voice Mark has, 
J essica ? ” 

No, my love, I can’t say I do.” 

^^Well, he has. When he sings I often 
shut my eyes, and say to myself, ^Now, 
Marky, suppose you were not my brother ! ’ ” 
Claiissa moved restlessly at the fire. 

“Well, Mark does sing very well,” pro- 
ceeded Philippa, resuming her matter-of-fact 
tone, “and the song he sang to-night was 
about his love coming back to him, and he 
really did sing it as if he were very much in 
love. He had just finished the words, and 
there was a little pause in the room, when 
suddenly a girl we had never seen before, a 
very, veiy pretty girl, rushed into our midst, 
and took hold of Mark’s two hands, and 
looked into his face with the very sweetest, 
loveliest light in her own, and said ‘ Mark! ’ 
— and, Jessica,, Mark stooped down, and 


246 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

kissed the girl on her lips ! Yes, he did, be- 
fore everyone ! Clarissa and I have come 
over, Jessica, to ask what it all means.” 

“ Why, my dear Phili|)pa,” replied Miss 
Power, ^^it’s quite plain what it all means. 
Little Nineteen-year-old has come back.” 

Good gracious ! Who in the world is 
Little Nineteen-year-old ? ” 

Darling little Sibyl, the youngest sister, 
the prettiest of them all, and one of the 
wisest, too, with the exception of one nonsen- 
sical idea of hers.” 

Well, of course I’m not acquainted with 
the Ross family intimately, so I cannot be 
supposed to know their idiosyncrasies,” an- 
swered Philippa, somewhat haughtily. “ But 
I cannot see why ‘ darling little Sibyl ’ should 
rush up to ‘Mark and kiss him.” 

“ My dear, he kissed her.” 

“Well, allow herself to be kissed by him ; 
it’s all the same.” 

“Wouldn’t you kiss your betrothed, if 
you met him suddenly, Philippa ? Ay, and 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 247 

forget all tlie world besides when you looked 
into his face ? ” 

Is Sibyl engaged to Mark, then ? ” 

Of course she is — she has been engaged 
to him for the last two months.” 

^^Then why don’t we know? Why is 
my mother kept in ignorance ? Why am I 
allowed to remain in the dark ? ” 

My dear Philippa, Mark himself must 
answer those questions.” 

He shall, and to-night, too,” replied Phil- 
ippa, rising to her feet. I think we have 
been treated shamefully. Do you think we 
would have come to stay at that house if we 
had known that anything of that sort was go- 
ing on ? Jessica, I wonder you did not tell 
us.” 

My dear, how could I possibly tell you 
did not know ? But as we are speaking of 
the matter now, I may as well own I never 
did approve of the match.” 

Oh, you don’t think her good enough for 
Mark ? Well, no wonder.” 


248 OVT OF THE FASHlOI^. 

On the contrary, I don’t think Mark half 
good enough for lier.” 

Both the girls said Oh ! ” this time, and 
Clarissa sprang to her feet. 

Had we not better go back to No. 80 
now, Philippa ? ” she said. 

‘^Yes, we’ll go,” said PhilqDpa. ^^Good- 
night, Jessica ; I’m sorry you did not give us 
a hint ; for as you know Mark so well, and 
think so little of him, you might have guessed 
he would try to deceive us.” 

Miss Power rose, and put her two hands 
on Philippa’s shoulders. 

^‘You are angry now, dear,” she said. 
“And now I must admit you have much 
reason to be angry. When you offered to come 
to No. 80, I thought it very probable that 
you knew nothing of Mark’s engagement, and 
I must own that I felt a sense of satisfaction 
in thinking that the truth would probably 
reach your ears while you stayed there. It 
was not my place to reveal your brother’s 
secrets, but now that he has let them out 
himself, you can say anything you please to 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


249 


him. You are not likely to part him from 
Sibyl, however, and there are many reasons 
which make me regret that your powers are 
so limited. Good-night, dear. Come and 
see me in the morning if you like, and if I can 
do anything to help you to lay the switch 
about Mark’s shoulders, I shall be more 
than happy. Good-night, Clarissa.” 


CHAPTER XXIIL 


Notwithstanding her agitation and anger, 
Philippa slept soundly all through that night. 
Clarissa was the one who stayed awake. 
Sleep fled from her wide-open eyes, and 
thoughts, busy and anxious, crowded into her 
active brain. 

Clarissa was the petted heiress, the darling 
of her home and neighborhood, an acknowl- 
edged beauty, too. Clarissa possessed a 
triple gift — birth, beauty, fortune — surely 
everything she wished for could be hers. 

Everything she desired had up to the pres- 
ent come at her bidding. Now, for the first 
time in her whole life, she was conscious of 
having received a direct slap in the face. 
She received this blow when Mark took 
Sibyl’s hands and kissed her. 

Clarissa remained for nearly half the night 
struggling with her own mortified feelings. 

S50 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 251 

She had by no means made up her mind 
whether she would marry Mark, but for over 
a year now she had been quite sure, quite ab- 
solutely positive, that Mark would wish to 
marry her. She thought that in all the 
world she was the girl who stood first in his 
affections. She was not violently in love 
with him, but his attentions gave her pleasure, 
his words interested her, the fervent glance 
he favored her with now and then caused 
lier heart to beat agreeably — she knew, as 
well as he did, that he had only to say the 
word to arouse deeper and stronger feelings 
within her. 

Now that word would never be spoken. 
Clarissa lay in her humble little bed under 
the eaves in the attic bedroom and wept. 
Her tears flowed noiselessly and easily. Had 
she felt more deeply she might not have 
cried at all. 

All during the early part of the night, 
Clarissa thought of the slap she had received, 
but toward morning her meditations took an- 
other turn. She became anxious that Mark 


252 


OUT OF THE FASUlOK 


should not have that switch laid across his 
shoulders. 

Philippa had spoken angrily of a rod lying 
up in pickle for her darling Marky, but Clar- 
issa wished the rod to be taken out of pickle. 
Then, from tender thoughts of Mark, who 
had all her life been her favorite cousin, this 
kind-hearted creature began to think of the 
girl who had rushed into the midst of the 
charmed circle last night. The girl’s face was 
pretty, pretty and yet worn, with that pa- 
thetic look of wear which Only adds to the 
beauty of very early youth. The eyes that 
gazed into Mark’s were no strangers to tears, 
the full, rosy lips appealed both to pity and 
to love. 

Clarissa was attracted by this girl, and in 
the morning she got up, pale and heavy-eyed, 
it’s true, but with her wise and kind little 
brain teeming with thoughts. 

We’ll go away to-day,” said Philippa, as 
she took turns with her cousin to arrange her 
hair before the small looking-glass. 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 253 

Yes,” answered Clarissa, but I must see 
Sibyl first.” 

What — ^ the darling little Sibyl ’ ? Do you 
want to see more of her ? I must own it is 
not what I do.” 

I should like to see her again,” answered 
Clarissa, in a meek voice. 

Philippa looked hard at her cousin’s back; 
she was not permitted to view her fa6e ; and 
a few seconds afterward the two girls went 
downstairs together. 

The greater number of the girls who 
boarded in the house had left the breakfast 
room when Philippa and Clarissa entered. 
These girls had gone about their daily avoca- 
tions, some to Schools of Art, some to the 
Musical Academies, some to teach, some to be 
taught. The Rosses, however, were still in 
the breakfast room, and Maggie smiled at her 
guests, and made them welcome when they 
tripped in. 

Philippa responded coldly to Maggie’s 
greeting. She sat down at the breakfast 


254 OUT OF THE FASHION. 

table, helped lierself to cold toast, and 
steadily ignored the delicious hot muffins 
which Kitty was pushing in her direction. 
Sibyl was in the room ; she had borrowed an- 
other of Kitty’s frocks, and Clarissa saw that 
her fresh, softly-rounded face looked even 
prettier by daylight than candle-light. 

Sibyl’s eyes were brimful of mirth and 
happiness, and Clarissa noticed that her 
sisters could not make enough of her. 

When the meal was over Philippa rose 
and went up to speak to Maggie. Now was 
Clarissa’s chance. She was a remarkably 
gentle girl, and had seldom taken any initia- 
tive step before. The color flushed all over 
her face, as she stepped up to Sibyl and, tak- 
ing her hand, said in a low, sweet voice : 

I heard last night that you were engaged 
to Mark. Let me congratulate you.” 

Sibyl flushed more brightly even than 
Clarissa. 

Are you Mark’s cousin, Clarissa ? ” she 
whispered back. 

Yes, and his sister Philippa is here. She 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 255 

is talking to your sister ; come and speak to 
her with me.” 

Clarissa took Sibyl’s hand. 

‘^Philippa” she said, touching her tall 
cousin with a slight, half-beseeching move- 
ment, this is Sibyl.” 

How do you do ? ” said Philippa. 

She took Sibyl’s hand, and held it in a 
light, limp fashion, then dropping it, she 
turned to Maggie. 

My cousin and I must leave to-day. 
Will you kindly have our accounts sent to 
our room.” Then, without again glancing at 
Sibyl, she left the dining room. 

A few moments later Clarissa rushed into 
the attic bedroom. 

“ Philippa,” she said, I am going to stay 
at 80 Eosemary Gardens for the present. I 
have spoken to Maggie. I don’t want to go 
back to Ashton Manor to-day.” 

^‘Now, Clarissa, what is the meaning of 
this?” 

I am going to see if I cannot help Sibyl 
and Mark,” continued Clarissa, in a steady 


256 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


voice. Sibyl is a very pretty girl, and very 
nice, and she loves Mark with all her heart, 
and I should like them to be married. You 
can go back, Philippa, and scold Mark, but 
I shall stay here and help him.” 

Philippa looked hard at her cousin. 

^‘Clarissa,” she said, after a long pause, 
“you are an angel, but the aggravation of 
your goodness nearly maddens me. Why 
can’t you be ordinary and vindictive in this 
matter ? ” 

“ AVhat have I to be vindictive about ? ” 
asked Clarissa, rearing her slight little neck 
in a very royal style. 

“Oh, well, nothing, I suppose. Stay if 
you want to, Clarissa. I assure you, you’ll be 
the reverse of a comfort to me at Ashton 
Manor at present. I feel diabolical, and you 
are angelic, and the farther apart we are for 
the time being, the better. A nice, pleasant, 
cheerful period I am likely to have with my 
beloved mother and Mark for the next few 
days. One tugging me one way, and the 
other the other — and all on account of that 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


257 


' darling little Sibyl.’ There, I hate her ; I 
can’t help it.” 

Philippa left by an early train. As soon 
as ever she was gone, Clarissa sat down in 
her attic bedroom, and wrote a letter to her 
father : 

80 Rosemary Gardens, 
October 24. 

Dearest Father : I am in the most delightful 
boarding liouse in the world. It is kept by three girls, 
real ladies. Tliey won’t admit gentlemen boarders, 
or you ought to come and never leave it. Oh, it’s 
quite an heavenly place., I came here two days ago, 
with Philippa Danby. Mark came to see us last 
night, and what do you think ? We had a delicious 
little denoiXment in the drawing-room. Mark was sing- 
ing a love song. You know what a nice voice he has, 
and he sang about hearts, and riots, and meetings, 
and all that sort of thing, you know ! Of course, 
laugh at them, but I expect you liked them well 
enough when mother was a young girl ! 

Well, he had scarcely finished singing, when in 
rushed his lady-love. She was in silvery gray, and 
her face was just lovely. She took his hands, and he 
looked at her, and then he kissed her before a whole 
roomful of people! Mark has been engaged for two 
months to Sibyl Ross, the sister of the girls who keep 
the boarding house. Mark would not allow her to 
help to keep it, but he sent her away to a dreadful 
old uncle, who kept a bull and a curate, and who 


258 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


stole her hats. I can’t quite make out that part of 
the story, but anyhow Sibyl could not bear either 
the uncle or the curate, and so she ran away, and 
came back to London. Father, she is just the wife 
for Mark, and he is so fond of her. Philippa and 
Aunt Jane, I know, will oppose the match, but you 
have no silly, false pride. Father, try and get Mark 
something to do. 

Your loving daughter, 

Clarissa. 

P. S. — I shall be here for the next few days, so you 
can write or wire about Mark’s appointment when 
you get this. 


Clarissa’s father was at Brighton now, and 
she calculated he would receive this impor- 
tant letter by the evening post, at the latest. 
If he wrote by return, which she hoped he 
might do, she ought to get a letter by the 
following morning. 

None came, which disappointed her, but 
immediately after breakfast a yellow envelope 
was thrust into her hand. 

“ The answer is prepaid, miss,” said the 
maid, standing before Clarissa. 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 259 

She tore the yellow envelope open, with 
trembling fingers. 

“Will Uncle Joe’s agency do?” was 
scrawled on pink paper inside. 

Clarissa, with trembling fingers, wrote one 
word on the prepaid reply : “ Splendid ! ” 


CHAPTER XXIV. 


Claeissa’s father sent off liis telegram, then 
he came and sat with his wife in her 
boudoir. 

My dear,” he said, after a time, “ I don’t 
think anything has ever given me more re- 
lief than that letter of Clari’s last night. I 
may as well confess to you that I lived in 
hourly dread of the post bringing me the 
child’s announcement that she was herself 
engaged to Mark Danby.” 

“And, my love,” responded Mrs. Marma- 
duke, raising her handsome, somewhat inert, 
face, “ had Clarissa so written we would have 
been obliged to say ‘ Yes ’ ; for, you know, we 
always made up our minds that we would 
never oppose Clari’s and Vi’s love affairs.” 

“Well, thank Heaven, the danger is past,” 
said Mr. Marmaduke. “ The dear girl had 
evidently only the most cousinly regard for 
260 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 261 

Mark, and now, seeing that he is my own 
nephew, I am bound to help him all I can. 
I can’t say that he takes my fancy, but he 
wouldn’t be a bad sort of fellow if his mother 
could only make up her mind to leave him 
alone. What do you say, Henrietta, my dear ? 
Shall I go to town by the next train and see 
Clari?” 

“Yes, and for goodness’ sake bring the 
child home, George ; don’t leave her in that 
queer boarding house by herself.” 

Mr. Marmaduke laughed. 

“ I can’t promise anything,” he said. “ I’ll 
see how things really appear. The child 
speaks well of the place, and she has a wise 
little head on her pretty shoulders.” 

Mr. Marmaduke arrived at No. 80 Eose- 
mary Gardens that evening, in time to enjoy 
a very sociable cup of afternoon tea. Thi^ee 
of the Eoss girls were present. One poured 
out his tea, another helped him to cream and 
sugar (he took both), and a third supplied 
him with brown bread and butter cut. to 
perfection. 


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262 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


He thought the three Misses Ross quite lady- 
like young women, and invited Kitty down 
to Brighton to stay with Clarissa and 
Violet. 

After the meal was over, this good man 
had first an interview with Clarissa, then 
with Mark, and, lastly, Sibyl was introduced 
to him. It was in Sibyl’s presence that the 
Hon. George Marmaduke made Mark Danby 
a substantial offer. 

You want to marry this young woman,” 
he said, looking straight into his nephew’s 
eyes. 

Mark colored all over his dark face. 

Yes, sir, I do, if she will have me,” he said. 

And you want to marry my nephew ? ” 
continued Mr. Marmaduke, nodding to Sibyl. 

Yes, sir, if he will have me,” she answered. 
Then she took Clarissa’s hand and squeezed it 
hard. 

“ And what income have you to marry on ? ” 
continued Mr. Marmaduke, looking again at 
Mark. 

I’m afraid I have not any, sir.” 


OVT OF THE FASHION. 


263 


“ H’m. You doubtless have an equivalent 
to no income — debts ? ” 

I do owe some money, Uncle George.” 

“ I might have known that. How much ? ’’ 

“ Three hundred pounds would cover every- 
thing, sir.” 

On your honor ? ” 

Yes, sir; on my honor.” 

Mr. Marmaduke said “ H’m ! ” twice, very 
loudly. 

“You love this girl, nephew ? ” he said then. 

“ Yes,” answered Mark. 

His “ Yes ” was so full of meaning, that 
Sibyl quite hurt Clarissa’s hand the way she 
squeezed it. 

“ You are reading for the law ? ” continued 
Mr. Marmaduke. 

“Yes.” 

“ Well, now. I’ll tell you what it is. If I 
were you I’d give up the law, or at any rate 
the special branch you are preparing for. I 
doubt your ever doing much at the bar. Any- 
how, it would be weary waiting to marry on 
what you made, and somehow Clarissa and I 

, r 


264 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


don’t want this young girl to have to wait an 
interminable time. I tell you what I’ll do for 
you, Mark. I’ll pay your debts and start you 
clear, and I’ll give you a letter to my wife’s 
brother, Joseph Symington. He w^ants a 
likely young fellow like yourself to act as 
agent to his property in Cornwall. You 
would have, of course, to live there, and would 
have a small income to start with — say, four 
hundred a year. Would this be agreeable to 
you?” 

Mark’s face had turned very white. He 
looked at Sibyl, at Clarissa, at his uncle. 

“ I don’t deserve it,” he murmured. 

Sibyl rushed forward and clasped Mr. 
Marmaduke’s hand. 

“ I don’t know how to thank you,” her 
eyes said. Her trembling lips tried to say 
the words, but they failed. 

“ Well, it’s all settled, my dear,” said Mr. 
Marmaduke; “and as you’ll be my niece 
soon, you may as well give me a kiss.” 

At this moment the important conference 
was interrupted by a slight, but imperative, 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 265 

tap at the room door. Before Sibyl had 
time to go and open it Miss Power walked 
in. 

Plow do you do ? ” she said, shaking 
hands with Mr. Marmaduke. Then she 
added, before anyone had time to utter a 
word : I know what you are all talking 

about. You, Clarissa, and you, George, are 
trying to smooth matters for your cousin and 
nephew, Mark Danby. He has set his heart 
on marrying Sibyl Boss. He is remarkably 
lucky in his choice, and as his relatives, it is 
undoubtedly your bounden duty to prevent 
his losing the luck which he will certainly 
have when he unites himself to this young 
girl. Come here, Sibyl dear ; give me your 
hand. The Bible says,” continued Miss 
Power, that the price of a good wife is 
above rubies. When Mark marries Sibyl he 
will have united himself to a lady, and a 
beautiful as well as a good girl. What can 
any man want more ? Mark, I wish you 
luck. Shake hands.” 

Miss Power wTung Mark’s hands in a very 

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266 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


liearty manner. Then she turned to Sibyl 
and kissed her. 

“My love,” she said, “You are mother- 
less, and on this occasion, I mean to act 
as a mother to you. You shall be married 
from my house, and I will give you your 
trousseau. In addition to this, I mean to 
make you a present of two thousand pounds. 
This is by no means a fortune^, Sibyl, but i t 
will give you a little certain income quite in- 
dependent of your husband — for I warrant 
you, my dear, I shall see it securely settled 
on you. Now you four good people can go 
on with your conference. I have said my 
say, and I must go.” 

“ I might have guessed it,” said Philippa. 
“ I was a great fool to be so taken unawares. 
I might have known that Marky w^ouldn’t 
hide letters morning after morning for noth- 
ing. Oh, my dear mamsey, for goodness’ 
sake don’t begin to cry again ! My nerves 
really won’t stand it.” 

Lady Jane took a limp handkerchief out of 


OUT OF THE FAmiON. 


267 


her pocket. This ske applied pathetically to 
her eyes. Then she turned and plaintively 
examined the contents of a silver salver 
near her side. 

“Four letters have arrived by the after- 
noon’s post, Philippa,” she said ; “ here they 
are. I haven’t opened one of them, for I 
know they are all about that detestable 
girl.” 

“ But they must be read,” said Philippa, in 
her practical voice. “ Let me look at them. 
This one is from Mark. Shall I read it to 
you, mothery ? ” 

“ If you like, my love.” 

“ Dear me, I don’t like it a bit, mams, but 
what can’t be cured now, then — here 

goes ” Philippa tore open the letter, and 

read the following words aloud : 

“ 80 Rosemary Gardens, 

^ October 26. 

‘‘My Dear Mother: I am the happiest fellow in 
the world. Uncle George has behaved like a real old 
Briton. He is setting me on my feet, for I will con- 
fess that I did owe for one or two little matters ” 

r 


268 


O UT OF THE FASHION. 


“ Good gracious ! The wicked, ungrateful 
boy was in debt, as well as everything else ! ” 
screamed Lady Jane. 

“Now, mothery, do let me go on reading : 

“ Uncle George has, set me on my feet, and he 

has got me the Symington agency, which you know I 
was always dying for. Sibyl and I are to be married 
as soon as possible. I know you will love her when 
you see her — I long to introduce her to you 

“ H’m — h’m. I needn’t read the rest,” con- 
tinued Philip]3a, “it’s rhapsody.” 

She took up another of the letters. 

“ This is from Jessica Power,” she said. 
She proceeded to open the envelope : 


80 Rosemary Gardens, 

O ,tobe 26. 

My Dear Jane : I congratulate you. Your son 
has secured a charming girl for his wife. She is to 
be married from my house, and I am going to settle 
two thousand pounds strictly on herself. 

Yours sincerely, 

Jessica Power. 

“ This,” continued Philippa, “ is from Clar- 
issa; I know the kind of sentiments she is 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


269 


likely to put into a letter at present, so I de- 
cline to read it until I feel less aggravated. 
And this is from Uncle George. Now then, 
worthy uncle, what are your remarks on the 
situation ? ” 

The crackling of paper was heard for an 
instant, then a loud exclamation from Phil- 
ippa. 

Oh, good gracious, mamsey, do hearken 
to this ! 

80 Rosemaey Gardens. 
[How I bate the sound of that address!] 

My Dear Sister : Mark is a lucky fellow. 
He has secured a charming girl for his wife — a mod- 
est, ladylike, nice creature. This is just a line to tell 
you that Clarissa and I, and Mark and Sibyl, are all 
coming down to dine with you this evening. We 
shall arrive by the 5:40 train. 

“ Your affectionate brother, 

“ George Marmaduke.” 

“ My dear Philippa! ” exclaimed Lady Jane, 
there isn’t a thing in the house for dinner! ” 

“ My dear mamsey, for goodness’ sake, 
don’t lose your head. I’ll fly round to the 
butchers, and the fishmongers, and the green- 


270 


OUT OF THE FASHION. 


grocers, and to J ohnson, tlie grocer, and order 
in supplies.” 

Yes, oh, yes — but Philippa ” 

“Yes, yes, mamsey, but hadn’t you better 
see the cook ? ” 

“I will, I will, but Philippa, one mo- 
ment — ” 

“ What is it ? I really must fly round 
to ” 

“ Oh, wonH you let me speak ? How are we 
to receive her ? ” 

“ Who ? There are four people coming.” 

“ Philippa, you are enough to distract any- 
one. How am I to receive Sibyl — my new 
daughter that is to be ? ” 

“ Put your arms round her, and call her 
ihat^ mothery, and all will be well. As to 
me. I’ll just say ; ^ Here you are, darling little 
Sibyl ! ’ Oh, of course, we must make the best 
of it. Now, if there’s going to be any dinner, 
I must fly! 
















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